Woman was created to be a helpmeet. All examples in Scripture point to the Husband being the provide, worker, etc. outside the home. In Proverbs 31 we do see a Lady who works
per se, but it is for the advancement of her family, and her work is directly tied to the home. She's not working for another man, nor under anyone else's headship.
It is interesting what Paul says in 1 Timothy 5:
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3 Honor widows who are truly widows. 4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God. 5 She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, 6 but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. 7 Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach. 8 But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 9 Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband, 10 and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work. 11 But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when their passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry 12 and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith. 13 Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not. 14 So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander.
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We may deduce several things:
1. Widows are to be taken care of by their children, first, then the church (this doesn't mean mooching, but legitimate care, etc.). This would imply that it's not for the woman to be out in the world career-minded, etc. Remember, God directed his words toward Adam when he said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;
18 thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field.
19 By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return." His rebuke toward Eve was not about
work but about childbearing (I'm glad I'm a man)
2. Verse 8, is directed toward a man, not a woman.
3. Look at what the younger women should be doing, according to the Holy Spirit via Paul's pen: "marry, bear children, manage their households" and taking care of widow relatives.
So, I would say one of the most Biblical purposes in a wife is to be a helpmeet in serving her husband's and children's needs, in the context of the home, which may include
some working outside the home (in a literal sense, like the Prov. 31 Lady), but never at the cost of the home. In other words, not a career, not working under men who're not her husband, etc. And not permanently. Now lest I be misunderstood, there is hardly a more noble calling than being a wife, mother, and helpmeet. I've never known a Biblical wife or mom who is overpaid, but many who are underpaid.
