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The Role Of Woman |
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The Role Of Woman
Two-thirds of divorces in America are filed by women. I sincerely believe this is because we,
as women, have lost perspective of our roles within marriage as designed by God. God did not create woman inferior to man; both are equal. But He did create man and woman
different by design, and our roles as women differ from the roles of men: “And
the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a
helper comparable to him.’” This
term “helper” is not demeaning and does not connote inferiority; instead,
according to my Nelson Study Bible notes, this simply means “one who helps,”
and in fact is used to describe God when He comes to our aid (see Ps. 33:20,
115:9, 10, 11). We live in a society, which teaches women that they will only find
meaning, fulfillment, and success outside of the home. But a woman’s God-given ministries are
to her husband, to her children, and to her home.
As Rev. Derek Cromwell so succinctly pointed out to me, regarding the
ministry of parenting, “What ministry better characterizes, ‘for I was
hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink…I was naked
and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me’”? God’s design is for a woman’s role to function under the leadership
of man (Quick Scripture Reference for Counseling Women, p.155). 1 Corinthians 11:3-12 (NIV) says: Now I want you to realize that the head
of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ
is God…For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; neither was man
created for woman, but woman for man…In the Lord, however, woman is not
independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as woman came from man, so also man
is born of woman. But everything
comes from God. As women, we are called to submit first
to God, then our husbands, and more generally “one another” (Ephesians
5:21). One of the fundamental
components of the Christian walk is that of submission. The subject of submission has been
largely controversial and misunderstood, even by the Christian population; it
need not be. To submit simply means to yield. Christian submission is to voluntarily
yield in love and consider other’s needs more important than your own (The
Student’s Bible Dictionary, p.215). Submission
honors both God and our husband; it should be an ongoing act of service, love,
and trust (A Woman’s Journey to Abundance, pp.39-42). As a woman, the ministries of marriage,
motherhood, and making a home require service and, yes, even sacrifice. Jesus, Himself, was both God incarnate
and a humble Servant, though, and He both taught and modeled greatness through
serving: You know that the rulers of the Gentiles
lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but
whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among
you, let him be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served,
but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many (Matthew 20:25-28). Oftentimes, as a wife, mother, and home
school teacher, I feel that no one recognizes or even appreciates the work I do;
that isn’t a reflection on my husband and children. But sometimes it’s easy to feel
overwhelmed by the many different “plates” I am spinning. I envision the old comedy routines in
which a man balances and spins ten plates on sticks of varying sizes. Of course, within moments, the scene is
chaotic: wobbling plates are off-balance, some are slowing, many are crashing,
and the man runs around hysterically, re-spinning those plates that are closest
to their crashing points. I, too,
have many plates that are spinning, priorities that require re-spinning, often
times on an hourly basis: changing diapers, cleaning, cooking, preparing lesson
plans for the following week, studying, writing, etc. Am I really contributing?
Am I making a positive difference in the lives of my husband and
children? Does anyone notice or
even care? Scripture assures us
that, indeed, God notices and cares: Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters, according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free (Ephesians 6:5-8).
Isn’t that a wonderful promise? Not only does God acknowledge and
appreciate the work I do, but as His servant, I can work not unto men, but unto
HIM! And ultimately and eternally,
I will be rewarded for my service. The
same is true for you, Beloved. What
plates are you spinning? Which
plates need to be prioritized in service to your husband, your children, and in
making a home? Which plates need
re-prioritizing so they don’t eventually crash?
Examine the different facets of your life; how can you serve in those
areas in ways that are most pleasing and glorifying to God? In what ways can you serve within your
marriage, that your husband might be all
that he can be? When we are
submissive and obedient, God’s hand is more powerfully over our lives,
blessing, redeeming, restoring, and providing.
Thus, it should be a privilege for us as wives to trust God as we submit
to our husband’s authority (A Woman’s Journey to Abundance, p.47). |
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