Family Relationships in Christ (Part 2)

Part One of Three I shared with you all the importance husbands/fathers have in regards to building a strong family relationship in Christ.  This week, or I should really say Part Two, I will  be sharing the wife's role in reflection to the family.   Once again, the basis of this article comes from Brother Wayne Spivey's sermon on Family Relationships in Christ. 

"And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.  For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord.  For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church.  He is the Savior of his body, the church.  As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything." - Ephesians 5:21-24 (NLT)

In today's society, women are learning to become more independent.  We (women) are often either taught independence or are teaching independence in the home.  The message, "Women don't need men to support them" rings loud across the country.  Biblically speaking, this message is not what God has intended.  Please understand that I am not saying that women should not have their independence.  I have my Masters in Social Work, I will advocate for the rights of the people.  However, I am saying, that when it comes to family, women do not need to have the "independent" mind frame. 

Here is what the scripture from Ephesians is saying.  Wives are to....

1. Submit.  Good ole' Mr. Webster defines submit as, "to give over or yield to the power or authority of another."  Husbands are to guide their family according to God's will for the family.  A godly husband daily seeks to lead the family in Christ.  Women are to submit to the direction the husband is guiding them.  Submission is not to be expressed out of fear or in hopes of personal gain.  Submission is to be out of reverence of God.  Colossians 3:18, "Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord."
2. Pray.  For those women in a marriage when the husband is not leading them, you are to pray.  Prayer is more effective than words.  Pray for your husband to listen to what God is saying to him.  Pray that your husband will lead your family the way God wants him to.  Pray for salvation in your husband and your marriage. 
3. Encourage.  At times, this can be difficult.  Encourage your husband to do God's will.  If you continue to do God's will in your life, your actions, your words, your heart can encourage your husband to start following God's will again.  Do not belittle or cut your husband down.
4. Respect. Demonstrating respect to your husband is viewed by your children.  This is a great testimony that you can show to your children, that when I respect my husband, I am respecting the Lord.  Be a model for your children.

While the males are called to be the leaders of their family, wives are called to submit to their husbands.  I can remember during mine and my husbands pre-marital counseling talking out who is to be the spiritual leader of the house.  I understood what scripture was telling me, as the wife, to do.  However, after a few months of being married, I realized the importance of letting my husband be the spiritual leader. 

Wives and those soon to be wives, I encourage you to whole-heartedly accept the role God has called you to fulfill.  Be the encourager when your husband needs you to be, pray for him to listen to what God is telling him, respect his decisions, but most importantly, submit. 

Dear Gracious Heavenly Father,

My prayer today is that everyday I learn to submit to my husband.  I pray for my husband, his dedication to not only you, but to this family.  Please heal the families that may have lost their way when it comes to the their relationship with you.  In Jesus' Name, AMEN.