Does Debi Pearl’s book, Created To Be His Help Meet Contain Sound Advice?
“Slave Labor” was the title of an article that has circulated on the Internet for several years. It was part of a chapter from a 1954 Home Economics textbook to be taught to high school girls. In summary, the girls were taught to be good housewives by preparing their homes, their supper meal, and their children for the arrival of their hard working husbands. The last point is this: “Try to make your home a place of peace and order where your husband can relax”. Treat him like a king, and view yourself as his servant, it was saying.
Women who agree that this sounds like slave labor would NOT appreciate the instruction Debi Pearl presents in her book, Created to Be His Help Meet. Indeed, the author herself admits to being tempted to skirt not-so-politically-correct issues that would cause her to lose sales. Michael, her husband told her, “If God thought it was important enough to inspire it as part of His Word to us, then you should include it”.
For the others, this is the first great quality of this book. It is based on Scripture without fear of man, or other women, or of being called ‘old fashioned’. Debi studied the entire Bible, looking for what God taught about the role of women. It is based on the design principle, that God created woman unique with an important role in society. That role is to be a helpmeet to her husband. If instead she decided to take on his role, she will damage her marriage, children, the spirit of her home, and miss her own fulfilling purpose.
About this book the author states, “It took four years, thousands of hours, many tears, revisions and distractions, but I finally finished my book. I had no idea God had so much to say to us ladies until I began going through God’s Word verse by verse, writing the different sections of Created to Be His Help Meet”.
The book is based on this idea: “Quit trying to make your husband into the man you think he should be and, instead, allow God to make you into the woman He designed you to be”. The result will often be, surprisingly, that God will use you to change him. If he is treated as a king, he will treat his wife as the queen. But this is not your purpose.
Every such book can sound theoretical and there are plenty of stories to illustrate how a person’s situation is an exception to the rule. The author does not ignore these and gives many illustrations and answers questions from various difficult marriage situations. She also deals with the difficult subject of sex in a clear but discrete way.
A clear endorsement of the book lies in the fact that, at this writing, it is in its 8th printing in less than 4 years. Some pastors even banned the book from their church, but, on the other hand, the many letters from women (and men) who are grateful for what God did in their marriage as a result of the book testify to its effectiveness in teaching God’s ways for women, as His unique creations.
Debi Pearl is the author of multiple best sellers including Created to Be His Help Meet and [The Vision|Listen To My Dream]. You can find out more on her website.
