Our husbands are Christ's representation in our home. Yikes! Do I treat my husband like I would treat Christ if He was walking around in the flesh in my home?
Ephesians 5 (emphasis mine)
"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...and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
I used to believe that respect had to be earned. And in some cases that is true. But in cases of headship and lines of authority, respect is given merely because of the position given by God. And God has put our husbands in a position in which He commands us (not suggests to us) that we respect them and submit to them.
Why do we have such a hard time with this? Lies from the enemy in the forms of worldly counsel and fear.
The world does not tell you that your husband will give account for how he leads your family. And you aren't told that you will be held accountable for how you follow him, support him and help him. You aren't encouraged to make his job as head of your home a little easier by not bucking every decision he makes; by not complaining about everything he does. You are told to look out for #1 - SELF! The Bible teaches us to die to self. In sincerity, ask your husband how you can help him. What are his goals for you family and how can you help him achieve them?
We are afraid if we let go and relinquish control to God by allowing our husbands to do their jobs, everything will fall apart. We aren't told that there is security, relief and blessing in obeying God and submitting to our husband's authority - even if you think he's wrong. Aside from anything illegal or immoral, we are commanded to submit in "everything."
There's a story of a wife who's husband was not so good with money. Not so good with paying the bills. But he wanted to be the one to take care of that for the family. Well, sure enough, one day the electricity goes out. He hadn't paid the bill. What she could have done was rant and rave to the children about what a slacker their father is. And when he walked in that door that evening, let him have it. Tell him all about what a failure he is and how he should just listen to her. Then everything would be just fine.
However, what she did was amazing. Her children asked her what they were going to do. She said they were going to pretend they were living like Little House on the Prairie. And when her husband came home, they had the table set with candles and whatever food could be fixed without the use of stoves, ovens or microwaves.
Her husband said that inspired him more than any tongue-lashing ever could.
What if you feel your husband isn't leading? Or isn't leading they way you want him to? Pray for him and zip it.
I Peter 3:1-2
"Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct."
One last thought, do we treat our husbands the way we want our sons to be treated by their wives one day?
Ephesians 5 (emphasis mine)
"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...and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
I used to believe that respect had to be earned. And in some cases that is true. But in cases of headship and lines of authority, respect is given merely because of the position given by God. And God has put our husbands in a position in which He commands us (not suggests to us) that we respect them and submit to them.
Why do we have such a hard time with this? Lies from the enemy in the forms of worldly counsel and fear.
The world does not tell you that your husband will give account for how he leads your family. And you aren't told that you will be held accountable for how you follow him, support him and help him. You aren't encouraged to make his job as head of your home a little easier by not bucking every decision he makes; by not complaining about everything he does. You are told to look out for #1 - SELF! The Bible teaches us to die to self. In sincerity, ask your husband how you can help him. What are his goals for you family and how can you help him achieve them?
We are afraid if we let go and relinquish control to God by allowing our husbands to do their jobs, everything will fall apart. We aren't told that there is security, relief and blessing in obeying God and submitting to our husband's authority - even if you think he's wrong. Aside from anything illegal or immoral, we are commanded to submit in "everything."
There's a story of a wife who's husband was not so good with money. Not so good with paying the bills. But he wanted to be the one to take care of that for the family. Well, sure enough, one day the electricity goes out. He hadn't paid the bill. What she could have done was rant and rave to the children about what a slacker their father is. And when he walked in that door that evening, let him have it. Tell him all about what a failure he is and how he should just listen to her. Then everything would be just fine.
However, what she did was amazing. Her children asked her what they were going to do. She said they were going to pretend they were living like Little House on the Prairie. And when her husband came home, they had the table set with candles and whatever food could be fixed without the use of stoves, ovens or microwaves.
Her husband said that inspired him more than any tongue-lashing ever could.
What if you feel your husband isn't leading? Or isn't leading they way you want him to? Pray for him and zip it.
I Peter 3:1-2
"Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct."
One last thought, do we treat our husbands the way we want our sons to be treated by their wives one day?
2 comments:
great post! Before I was following God's Word - Thad was treated far less than I am afraid to admit. And then when I was growing spiritually and he wasn't - woo wee - I felt I had to be the leader. But finally a few years ago God showed me this - and changed my heart completely. God never said "when he does this ... respect him" or "when he does that ... respect him" - God says do it!
And there are times I do not agree with his decisions, but I smile and say, "yes dear".
And WOW the change in our relationship, the way the house "feels" - everything has been so much better because I put Thad where God designed him to be!
What a fabulous reminder, Jenny! Thank you for always sharing your heart and God's truth! Praying for you mother in law! xo
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