| Leadership
That Frees
Wives, in the same way be submissive
to your husbands so that, if any of them do not
believe the word, they may be won over without
words by the behavior of their wives, when they
see the purity and reverence of your lives. 1
Peter 3:1-2
"I am having a real problem with something
that I need input from you guys," said the
lady in our fellowship group. "My husband
wants to make a major purchase that I am opposed
to. We cannot afford it right now. I understand
what the Bible says about headship in the home,
but what do I do when I totally disagree with
his decision?" The men in the group looked
at each other, realizing the sensitive nature
of such a question, especially in today's society.
Then someone said, "You really only have
a few options if you adhere to the principle that
God has entrusted the man as the leader in the
home. God has placed you under the umbrella of
His protection as well as your husband. There
are times when he will not make the right decision.
Does that mean God is not protecting you? No.
There may be several things working here. God
may be testing your own obedience to this principle.
He may use you to open up your husband's spiritual
life due to your obedience and submissive spirit.
Your obedience may cost your family something,
but it will be beneficial in the long term. Your
alternative is to rebel and pay him back for his
decision by withholding your love from him, which
is often what a wife does in this situation. It
becomes a vicious circle of paybacks. My suggestion
is to tell your husband how you feel about his
decision and the impact you feel it will have
on you and your family. If he still wants to make
the purchase, you must let him do it and support
him. What happens next will rest in God's hand
as your ultimate protector."
A few weeks later our sister in Christ came to
our meeting. "I have some wonderful news.
We did make the purchase. However, we were able
to make it in such a way that we did not go into
debt and I was able to support my husband. I have
already seen a change in his attitude toward me
by the way I responded to him in this. It has
been a real lesson for me. I see him much more
open to spiritual things since I made this decision
and supported him, even though I disagreed with
it."
God has made man and woman equal in His sight.
Yet He has given each a different role to play
in marriage. Husbands must answer to God for their
leadership in the home. They will be judged for
that leadership. When a wife submits to that leadership,
God protects her from wrong decisions of that
husband, although sometimes it may not appear
that way at first.
You can trust God to protect you in your decisions
that are made in obedience to His Word.
The one who calls you is faithful
and He will do it (1
Thessalonians 5:24).
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