Womanly Dominion Book Club: Week 2

"On the field of life, God challenges every woman to live and run in such a way as to win the prize (1 Corinthians 9:24). In whatever she puts her hand to, she’s to 'do it with all her might' (Ecclesiastes 9:10) in order to hear that blessed commendation from the Lord, 'Well done, you good and faithful servant' (Matthew 25:21). And if she’s to achieve this noble goal on the field of life, she needs to be convinced of living according to these two fundamental principles: 'Play your position!' and 'Win it!'  Womanly Dominion, p. 18
 
In Womanly Dominion Mark Chanski calls for a recovery of true feminine strength—strength endowed by our Creator, redeemed by our Savior, and empowered by the Holy Spirit. It’s in recovering this strength that Chanski sees women fulfilling the call God has on their lives or, as he puts it, “playing their position.”
 
These “fundamental principles” of “play your position” and “win it” are not Oprahesque cheers for women to take self in hand and realize their dreams. They come straight from Scripture. God’s Word repeatedly urges us to spend our strength to fulfill His call on our lives for the praise of His glory.
 
So what are we giving our strength to?
 
We may run ourselves ragged doing many good things and yet miss what’s most important. Given the incessant “shouts from the misguided cultural sidelines” and our own wayward hearts, we easily become muddled, scattered, confused, and then overwhelmed. We lose the clarity of purpose found in Scripture’s guidance for our lives: both in the creation mandate and the wonderful privileges afforded us through the gospel.
 
But we must be careful that the good, even the very good, never replaces what Scripture says is most important. We must not try to “win it” in many good areas at the expense of “winning it” in the essentials. We must be clear on what Scriptures says are the priorities of our “position”: our spiritual growth, service in the church, evangelism, love for our husband and children, caring for our home. 
 
We must ask ourselves—what am I spending my strength on? Where does most of my time and energy go? Where am I trying to “win it”? Have I allowed the good (even the very good) to distract me from Scripture’s clear assignment to me as a woman? Am I giving myself to temporal matters at the expense of the eternal? Have I unintentionally wandered from my position? Are there any good things that I need to give up in order to fulfill the role assigned to me in Scripture?
 
These questions are just to get you started. As you prayerfully consider them in light of God’s Word, He may prompt you with other probing questions that enable you to view your life through the lens of Scripture.
 
But let me encourage you to take time to evaluate your life and priorities. After all, what we’re playing for is nothing less than the commendation of our Lord and Savior: “Well done, you good and faithful servant.”
 
And never forget: it’s all because of His grace and for His glory.
 
Chapter 2 next week….