Role of Wife

Courtesy of Free Bible Study.

Like a man, a woman has many roles in life. However, being a wife is her primary role under God. This is the reason she was originally created.

And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. Gen. 2:18

This means that the role of a wife is more important than the role of a mother. The role of a mother is vital, but it grows out of and is under the ministry of being a "help meet." This does not mean that a single woman is incomplete. If God asks an adult woman to remain single - either for a season or permanently - in a special way, He becomes her Husband.

There is a difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit... 1 Cor. 7:34

[Side note: The above verse is not saying that sex within marriage is wrong, an inferior way, or "dirty." The main meaning of holy is separated to God. It is simply saying that the unmarried woman is totally separated to God.]

So what is the ministry and role of a wife? She is called to be a helper to her husband. Her husband cannot accomplish his God-given mission without her. She is a vital part of the team that God placed together in a marriage partnership. She should be aware of the vision God has given her husband and her place in it. A Godly woman has her place of authority and honour in bringing God's vision to pass in the sphere of influence in which He has placed them.

What Are Some Of A Wife's Responsibilities?

She is to be a counselor. She is to give her husband sound, Biblical advice. Eve acted as a counselor, which was her role, but she gave evil advice. Adam knew the advice was wrong, but he followed it anyway. The same thing happened with Ahab and Jezebel [1 Kings 21:25]. A woman can have a great influence on her husband's decisions for better or worse. Sometimes she may not be able to explain to her husband why she thinks a course of action is right or wrong. A husband should always take the advice of his wife seriously. Many a husband in pride has ignored his marriage partner's "feelings" to great financial or personal loss.

And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. Luke 1:28

God spoke to a wife-to-be, Mary, about the coming of the Messiah before He spoke to Joseph. We see the same thing in Judges 13. The Angel of the Lord came and spoke to the wife before her husband.

In Judges 13, Manoah was fearful because of the revelation of God. His marriage partner was able to logically answer her husband's fears.

And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God. But his wife said unto him, If the LORD were pleased to kill us, he would not have received a burnt offering and a meat offering at our hands, neither would he have shewed us all these things, nor would as at this time have told us such things as these. Judges 13:22-23

As a counselor, a wife should be careful to maintain her relationship with God and knowledge of the Word of God. [The husband, of course, should also have a priority of knowing God as he is directly under Christ.] Many times a women is more spiritually sensitive [Matt. 15:28]. That is a blessing...but also a danger - which is one reason why she must submit to her husband. She may also expand her knowledge by studying specific areas that her husband is likely to need counsel.

Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Pr. 31:30

A wife is also a helper. She assists her husband to accomplish God's mission for their lives. She has authority under her husband. The two marriage partners are to be united in one purpose - serving Christ in whatever way He was designed.

Proverbs 31 Woman

Proverbs 31 is the classic picture of a wife in the position God has designed for her. It should be noted that every one has different talents and abilities. The idea is one of partnership, hard work, and diligence, not that every wife should be a real estate agent or business woman.

What are some quick points we see about this honoured marriage partner?

1. Vs. 10 She is more valuable to her husband that any other person or thing on the planet. Many a husband has lost his marriage partner or hurt his marriage because he has failed to appreciate the wonderful gift from God that she really is. A Godly woman is a treasure to be sought [Pr. 12:4, 18:22, 19:14]. If a woman wants a Godly husband she should make sure she is the kind of Godly woman that such men seek for.

2. Vs. 11-12 She is trustworthy. Her husband can go to work or look after other matters of life, confident that his marriage partner is competently and diligently working for their mutual benefit. No matter what she is doing, he knows that she is doing her best and not wasting her time or their resources.

3. Vs. 13, 19, 27 She is not afraid of work to provide for her family. If she is not talented at making clothes, she may search the second hand stores for good quality clothes for her family. New things are nice but, especially if funds are tight, she is creative at getting the best for her husband and family at reasonable cost.

4. Vs. 14, 18 She knows where the food and other sales are. She also knows if it will cost more in gas and time than the savings for travelingfrom store to store. She knows how to find nutritious food to keep her family healthy.

5. Vs. 15, 21 She is diligent to look after everyone under her care. She is concerned that they are treated fairly.

6. Vs. 16, 24 She has a good business sense. She knows what she can do to turn a good and fair profit. She may operate a home business, plant a garden, or do any of a million other things to help and strengthen herhome.

7. Vs. 20 She is compassionate and willing to help those in trouble. She is not so wrapped up in her husband and her family that she cannot see the needs of others. She can see the big picture and the place of her family in it.

8. Vs. 22 She does not neglect herself. She knows how to care for her appearance and dress beautifully.

9. Vs. 23 Her husband is a well-respected man of honour. He is known in his area of influence as a wise and trustworthy man.

10. Vs. 25-26 She is wise and knows how to control her tongue. She is an encourager and a person who builds her family and others. [Pr. 14:1]

11. Vs. 28-30 Her children and her husband respect and admire her.

12. Vs. 31 She has earned many blessings and rewards and should be allowed to enjoy them to the fullest. A husband should be delighted when his wife receives recognition and praise.

13. She can have a position of ministry in the church. [Ex. 15:20, Judges 4:4, 2 Kings 22:14, Luke 2:36, Ex. 35:22-29, Phil. 4:3]

What About Submission?

This is sometimes used as a tool to manipulate and control. What does God really mean by submission?

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. Eph. 5:22 [Eph. 5:24, Col. 3:18, 1 Peter 3:1]

Does this mean she is a servant - or a slave - to her husband's whims? No. The husband is to be in submission to Christ and His Word. [There is never a time when any human being is not to be in submission to someone!] The wife is a co-ruler with him. They are a team, a partnership for building the Kingdom of God. God designed them to be interdependent [1 Cor. 11:11-12] not independent. The female marriage partner is like the Vice-President. She has her realm of authority under the direction of her husband. God has a line of authority and her husband is ultimately responsible directly to God for everything that goes on under his care. It is team work; however, someone must have the final say and responsibility. God has chosen that this is the husband. His wife should recognize this heavy responsibility and help him bear it.

Does a wife have to obey her husband if she disagrees with his decision[s]? As with any partnership, every effort should be made to reach an ethical agreement or compromise. However, if an agreement cannot be reached then a Godly lady must follow her husband's decision as long as the decision is not in violation of the Word of God. If the decision is in direct violation of God's Word, then the higher priority of following God means respectful disobedience is required. [There is never a time when a wife can treat her husband with disrespect or contempt.]

What happens if the wife is married to an ungodly man?

For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. 1 Cor. 7:14

Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation [Old English for entire lifestyle] of the wives... 1 Peter 3:1

The non-Christian husband must still be submitted to. Sometimes wives try to win their ungodly husbands to Christ by criticism, "witnessing", trying to force him to go to church, etc. Loving submission - as to Christ - and a Godly lifestyle are the best witnesses. Only if the husband is committing a Biblical divorce offense does that become an option. [See Divorce: God's Protection For The Innocent]. No woman is required to be submissive to an abusive husband.

One further note: A wife [specific woman] is to be submissive to her husband [specific man]. It is not saying that a woman is to be submissive to every man. [Num. 26:6]

What does a wife have the right to expect from her husband? - trustworthy man of God and honour [Mal. 2:14, Eph. 5:23] - protection - financially, physically, emotionally [Eph. 5:25] - priority relationship [ Gen. 2:24, Matt. 19:5] - love [Col. 3:19, Eph. 5: 25, 33] - sex [Gen. 2:25, Ex. 21:10, 1 Cor. 7:2-4] - provision [Ex. 21:10] - consideration [1 Peter 3:7] - respect [no belittling remarks] [1 Peter 3:7, Deut. 22:16-19] - co-operation [1 Peter 3:7]*

Note: The many teachings of Scripture on how Christians are to treat each other have a special application to marriage.

*Expectations - I'll follow up on this in another post as I've been pondering upon it.

Lies Study - Chapter 4

I started this post a while back, but 'shelved' it to work on some other areas that captured my attention.  Since then, I've done a post on Chapter 5 and we're preparing for Chapter 6 - so I am now officially backtracking.  :-D

From the companion study book of Lies Women Believe, the question was:

Chapter 4, Day 2, Question #2:  Read Galatians 5:19-21. List the acts of the flesh. While different sins may have different consequences, are any of these sins 'less sinful' than the others in God's eyes?

I've read this list before, several times in fact, but haven't ever really stopped to ponder upon each one and try to gain a better understanding...one word in particular 'jumped' out at me.  Witchcraft.  I'd recently read a blog post (Why is the Charismatic Movement Thriving in Africa?) about how the charismatic movement in Africa was similar in practice to that of witch doctors.  When we have the wrong mind set about something, we're more apt to swallow anything.  Lies, sweet little lies.

Adultery - G3430 - From G3431; adultery. (Used 4x in 4 verses)

• G3431 - From G3432; to commit adultery.
• G3432 - Perhaps a primary word; a (male) paramour; figuratively apostate.

Apostate - that's an interesting word.  From dictionary.com:  a person who forsakes his religion, cause, party, etc.

Fornication - From G4203; harlotry (including adultery and incest); figuratively idolatry. (Used 8x in 7 verses)

• G4203 - From G4204; to act the harlot, that is, (literally) indulge unlawful lust (of either sex), or (figuratively) practise idolatry.
• G4204 - Feminine of G4205; a strumpet; figuratively an idolater.
• G4205 - From πέρνημι pernēmi (to sell; akin to the base of G4097); a (male) prostitute (as venal), that is, (by analogy) a debauchee (libertine).
• G4097 - The first is a reduplicated and prolonged form of the second (which occurs only as an alternate in certain tenses); contracted from περάω peraō (to traverse; from the base of G4008); to traffic (by travelling), that is, dispose of as merchandise or into slavery (literally or figuratively).

My, I'm interested to know the definition of idolatry listed below.

Uncleanness - G167 - From G169; impurity (the quality), physically or morally.  (Used 10x in 10 verses)

• G169 - From G1 (as a negative particle) and a presumed derivative of G2508 (meaning cleansed); impure (ceremonially, morally (lewd) or specifically (demonic)).

Lasciviousness - From a compound of G1 (as a negative particle) and a presumed σελγής selgēs (of uncertain derivation, but apparently meaning continent); licentiousness (sometimes including other vices). (Used 9x in 9 verses)

Also translated as wantonness and filthy conversation.  What is continent? Not as in land mass.  Dictionary.com #7 - exercising or characterized by restraint in relation to the desires or passions and especially to sexual desires; temperate.

Other vices?  Hmmm...I'll have to ponder upon this one a tad more.

Idolatry - G1495 - From G1497 and G2999; image worship (literally or figuratively). (Used 4x in 4 verses)

• G1497 - From G1491; an image (that is, for worship); by implication a heathen god, or (plural) the worship of such.
• G1491 - From G1492; a view, that is, form (literally or figuratively).
• G1492 - A primary verb; used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent, G3700 and G3708; properly to see (literally or figuratively); by implication (in the perfect only) to know.
• G2999 - From G3000; ministration of God, that is, worship.
• G3000 - From λάτρις latris (a hired menial); to minister (to God), that is, render religious homage.

Well this idolatry and the one as a derivative of lasciviousness aren't using the same Greek word.

Witchcraft - G5331 - From G5332; medication (“pharmacy”), that is, (by extension) magic (literal or figurative). (Used 3x in 3 verses)

• G5332 - From φάρμακον pharmakon (a drug, that is, spell giving potion); a druggist (“pharmacist”) or poisoner, that is, (by extension) a magician.

Now that's interesting, especially with the proliferation of 'medicines' and 'medications' for those who are unstable or have mental issues.  Are the medicines truly helping or are they compounding the problem?  So Google....and find this, which is,  simply amazing.  Tell me lies, sweet little lies.  It's a lengthy read - 2 parts in fact - but substantiates how Big Pharm isn't really out to help - its all about the $, that and control.  People who are on 'drugs' are easier to control.  Slaves work better that way.  (To read my entire RANT.)

Hatred - G2189 - Feminine of G2190; hostility; by implication a reason for opposition.

• G2190 - From a primary word ἔχθω echthō (to hate); hateful (passively odious, or actively hostile); usually as a noun, an adversary (especially Satan).

Variance - G2054 - Of uncertain affinity; a quarrel, that is, (by implication) wrangling. (Used 9x in 9 verses)

• Strife - Romans 13:13, 1 Corinthians 3:3, Philippians 1:15, 1 Timothy 6:4
• Debate - Romans 1:29, 2 Corinthians 12:20 
• Contentions - 1 Corinthians 1:11, Titus 3:9

Emulations - G2205 - From G2204; properly heat, that is, (figuratively) “zeal” (in a favorable sense, ardor; in an unfavorable one, jealousy, as of a husband [figuratively of God], or an enemy, malice).  (Used 17x in 17 verses)

• G2204 - A primary verb; to be hot (boil, of liquids; or glow, of solids), that is, (figuratively) be fervid (earnest).

I am absorbing, or reabsorbing, this partial list (Part II to follow) - pondering upon how I was 'boiling' when I researched the word witchcraft.  Was this righteous anger?  There is a difference.  Which made me stop...the list of behaviors which manifest, are these found in a Christian?  According to Gill on "Now the works of the flesh are manifest" - he states:

"By "flesh" is meant corrupt nature, as before, and by the works of it, not only external acts of sin, but inward lusts; for such are here mentioned among its works, as "hatred", "wrath", "envyings", &c. and both external and internal acts are so called, because they spring from the flesh, or corrupt nature, and are what that urges and solicits to, and are wrought thereby, and are what denominate and show men to be carnal: these are said to be "manifest"; not that they are all, and always publicly done, and are open to the sight of men; for they are works of darkness, and often done in secret, though they are always manifest to God the searcher of hearts, and will be brought to light in the day of judgment; but they are known to be sins in some measure by the light of nature, and especially by the law of God; and a clear case it is, that they are contrary to the Spirit, both to the Spirit of God, and to the principle of grace he forms in the heart; and that such who live in the commission of them are not led by him, nor are under the influence of his grace:"

No, these behaviors ought not to be laid at the door of those who are called to be ambassadors of Christ.  I'll finish up with Part II...I know, I know, there are several rabbit trails out there I need to finish!

What if It's All Been a Big Fat Lie?

As someone who has low blood sugar, I know the importance of 'keeping it steady.' Which to me meant 'slow burn' foods.  Foods that take a while for the body to break down and convert.  I'm learning more about how blood sugar interacts, not just with protein (my go to source), but fats and carbohydrates.

A friend recommended the video Fat Head - debunking Super Size Me.  I remember watching Super Size Me it with my children years ago - and believing the information presented.  Does or would eating a diet of fast food make one fat?  While, I'll never be a fan of 'fast food,' or the processes or materials used to make it, I'm sufficiently challenged to examine eating foods which are made/designed the way GOD intended (heads up the information presented here is 'seasoned' with evolutionary thought).

Once I watched the video and explored the site a bit, I did a bit more research.  I've included some below the video should you care to explore.

I found this article to be informative and challenging - especially as it relates to our tendency to believe whatever the media and/or government agencies spew out.  <-- They are made of people, people are fallible, sometimes they are dishonest, prone to bribery, or deceived themselves.  Examine all - be a Berean in all matters, not just the Word of God.

What if It's All Been a Big Fat Lie? ~ By Gary Taubes ~ Published: July 07, 2002

If the members of the American medical establishment were to have a collective find-yourself-standing-naked-in-Times-Square-type nightmare, this might be it. They spend 30 years ridiculing Robert Atkins, author of the phenomenally-best-selling ''Dr. Atkins' Diet Revolution'' and ''Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution,'' accusing the Manhattan doctor of quackery and fraud, only to discover that the unrepentant Atkins was right all along. Or maybe it's this: they find that their very own dietary recommendations -- eat less fat and more carbohydrates -- are the cause of the rampaging epidemic of obesity in America. Or, just possibly this: they find out both of the above are true.

When Atkins first published his ''Diet Revolution'' in 1972, Americans were just coming to terms with the proposition that fat -- particularly the saturated fat of meat and dairy products -- was the primary nutritional evil in the American diet. Atkins managed to sell millions of copies of a book promising that we would lose weight eating steak, eggs and butter to our heart's desire, because it was the carbohydrates, the pasta, rice, bagels and sugar, that caused obesity and even heart disease. Fat, he said, was harmless.

To read more go --> HERE.