Being a Biblical wife is not about adhering to rules or meeting fixed standards. It is about fulfilling your God-given role as a helper, partner, and co-heir with your husband in God's kingdom. It is about honoring God through your marriage and reflecting his love and grace on your spouse and family. In this blog post, I'll share some Biblical principles and practical tips for being a godly wife in today's world. Whether you are newly married, struggling in your marriage, or looking to strengthen your relationship with your husband. I hope to inspire and encourage you to seek God's best for your marriage.
When considering biblical marriage, the word "submission" comes to mind. It is also the dreaded word that no one discusses or understands appropriately. First, we must ascertain the meaning of the word.
What is submission?
In Webster's dictionary, submission is defined in two ways.
First, the condition of being humble or obedient.
Second, the act of giving in to power or authority.
The Bible says in Genesis that we will struggle with submission to our husbands. I reflect on the times over the 21 years (this March) in which I struggled with submission. At the time, I did not realize that I was wrong. These times were when I believed I knew better, was selfish, and demanded my way. It was all about me and not us as a team.
Let's dive in and see what the Bible says about submission. Our submission begins with God. If we cannot submit to God, we will be unable to submit to our husbands. James 4:7-8, 10 says, " Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Clean your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. By doing so, we are humbling ourselves in front of God. Matthew 5:5 says, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." We are open to learning and growing when we are submissive (humble, gentle, and meek). Proverbs 1:7 says, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction." Our fear (reverence) of the Lord is where our knowledge comes from.
Then comes the tricky part. Today, society tells us that we should not submit to anyone. When society thinks of submission, it refers to a situation in which a person is subordinate to another or mistreated. However, when God created Eve, she was made from Adam's rib bone. This is taken from his side, not anywhere else on the body. This implies that we are going to be by his side.
Genesis 2:18 says, " Then the Lord God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone, I will make him a helper fit for him." According to the Got Questions website, meet (KJV) or helper (ESV) in this context is an adjective that means "suitable." God made a "helper" for Adam who was suitable, fit, and proper for him. A suitable helper completes him in every way, bringing harmony rather than discord to the relationship.
Ephesians 5:21-24 talks about wives' submission to their husbands. However, beginning with verse 21, we are instructed to submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. This submission concerns the authority that God has established. This is another example of something that is not taught in today's society. It is evident in how we interact with one another.
Beginning in verse 22, we are instructed to submit to our husbands as we would to the Lord. Did you know that being submissive to our husbands is about pleasing them and obeying God? It's a beautiful way to honor our faith and create a solid and fulfilling relationship with our spouse. We can respect our husbands' authority more readily by following God's commands. We are commanded to submit to them as to the Lord. Even when we have husbands who don't necessarily deserve submission or whose judgment we don't always trust, we know that we are submitting to God and can trust Him with the outcome.
Husbands are commanded to love their wives as Christ loved the church. We remember all that Christ did for the church. He sacrificed himself on the cross. A husband's love is sacrificial. My husband exemplifies this choice. He returns home every day exhausted from a long day's work. He does this so I can stay home and homeschool our two boys. "Every day, he goes above and beyond to make my life easier. No wonder I am eager to take care of our home and submit to his love. We share a beautiful give-and-take, and I feel fortunate to have him in my life." Do I always succeed? Nope. Do I always strive to do better? Yes.
We will not find it easy to submit in our marriage. Our sinful nature is selfishness, which opposes submission. But, in the end, it is not about who we want to be but about obeying God. If we can't wholly submit to God, we'll struggle to submit to our husbands in any way. This is where having a relationship with God can help. If we have a strong relationship with Him, it will be easier to submit to Him in the required areas. Please look up scripture to ensure you are following God in obedience. Pray and ask God for help in the places where you are struggling. I am happy to speak with you if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you for taking the time to read this.
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