Close Knit Couples Fill their Roles

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"Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her by the washing of water with the word...in the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies...However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband." Ephesians 5:22-33.

The first wife ever created was Eve, and the purpose for which she was created was to be a helper to her husband, a companion, because it was not good for man to be alone. Part of the curse that resulted from the fall of man into sin was that the wife would desire to usurp and manipulate her husband and his authority. I am sorry to say that every woman ever since Eve has struggled with God's command to submit.

God has specifically called YOU to be the wife of your husband. We read in Proverbs 12:4 that "An excellent wife is the crown of her husband," while quarrelsome and nagging wives bring shame, strife and misery (it is better to live in a desert or the corner of a house top than with a nag). You and only you can be your husband's wife, you alone are equipped to bless him by excelling in this area. You must fill your role.

What is the role of a godly wife?

1) A godly wife submits. As seen in Ephesians 5, and also 1 Peter 3, God has called women to submit (obey, follow, respect) to their husbands. This is SO hard. Maybe you don't think you struggle with this. But you do. I didn't even think about submission my first year of marriage. "Sure, I submit to Niall," I thought. "I usually agree with him and we get along okay." But I harbored ungodly attitudes of wanting things my way, and thinking that my thoughts and ideas were superior. When my husband made a decision for our family, inwardly I rebelled. This is still a daily struggle. How is your attitude? I love what Elizabeth George says; at all times we are either yielding or bucking. Are you gracious and submissive in your heart of hearts? Your words? Your actions?

2) A godly wife respects. This is another tricky area that you might think you have down. I dare you to follow the advice of Mark and Grace Driscoll, and ask your husband, "Am I respectful to you?" Sometimes we disrespect our husband with our speech. Telling your friends about what stupid or frustrating thing he did, or what he does that bothers you, is disrespectful. Behaving rudely and correcting harshly or unnecessarily is disrespectful. If you wouldn't treat your pastor, or your boss, or a professor in this way, then you certainly should not treat the most important man in your life this way either.

3) A godly wife helps. Again I must share Elizabeth George's wisdom with you :). At all times you are either being a help or a hindrance to your husband. As you go about your day making choices concerning what you will do, how you will respond, ask yourself, "Will this help or hinder my husband?"

It's a tough calling. Loving, submitting to, respecting and helping one sinful man as a sinful woman is no simple task. Praise God, we have an excellent example of submission who equips us for our calling! Christ "became obedient, even to death on a cross," out of love for us and in submission to His Father. As you strive for submission to your husband in your own life, look to Christ and be encouraged. And fill your role.

Linked Up With: Titus 2sday, Teach Me Tuesday, and Gratituesday.