(Wives, please do not give this section of this article to your husband and start trying to diminish his godly role. This is not the intent of this article or the Scriptures on this point. Do not forget the first paragraph of this article. It is sad that I know this has to be stated.) The world will often paint godly men who lead their homes as a sort of “King Kong”. I have certainly heard charges such as this and am sure other godly men have as well. Godly men won’t shy away from their duties because the world portrays us as barbaric. Yet, there are those men who rule well with an iron fist and they have no other side to them. Their wives become verbal and sometimes even physical punching bags. This should not be so. Taking the oversight of the home is not about using a club to get what you want. Having a woman as a help meet is a blessing from God (Genesis 2:20- 25). Solomon said: “Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord” (Proverbs 18:22). A godly woman is a wonderful blessing for a godly man. I’ll write from a perspective of a man who is blessed beyond measure with a wonderful mate who is the definition of morality and beauty in every manner. I certainly am a man who knows how to rule with an iron fist. I do not give an inch when it comes to right and wrong. I understand how to correct my children and bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Proverbs 13:24 and Ephesians 6:4). Those who know me know that I can certainly be firm. However firm I may be, I am also gentle with my adoring wife. There is no one or nothing that can hold a candle to the affection I have for my “better half”. Paul wrote: “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it… So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh” (Ephesians 5:25; 28-31). Brethren, we must be the rulers of our children and wives, but that does not mean that we treat them without love and admiration. Finding a godly woman is the best thing on this earth for a man. We should notice here that there are some women who are rebellious, loud mouth, good for nothing, pigs. I am not defending those women. There is not a closet big enough to lock those witches into. We are talking about virtuous women. Of those, Solomon said: “Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies” (Proverbs 31:10)? Brethren consider the value of a godly woman. Those of us that are blessed with a woman of virtue have found a rare find. There is a big difference between a woman of virtue and one who is not. Notice this: “A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones” (Proverbs 12:4). Therefore brethren, when we look at our wonderful wives we need to be thankful. We need to treat them as the treasures that they are, while still maintaining our proper roles and duties in the home. I thank our heavenly Father daily for the blessings I have in my family. Katrina is truly the heart of our home. I love her and she knows that. For those of us blessed, let us remember that our wives are precious. Peter said: “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered” (I Peter 3:7). Husbands, do we treat our wives with honor? Do we treat them as the valuable gifts that they are? Let it not be said that a Christian man abuses (verbally or physically) the great gift God has given us. Surely, let us not twist the Scriptures and have them say we are to rule our homes by being violent to our weaker vessels (verbally or physically). One “elder” recently asked me if I ever say things to my wife in anger or argue with her. Brethren, how could I since I understand that value of my wife? Let us treat the love of our lives right! |
| Volume VIII ~ Issue XIV ~ December 30th, 2007 |
Words of Truth Weekly - Online Edition
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What must one do to be saved (Acts 2:37)? Hear and believe the Gospel (Mark 16:15-16 & Romans 10:17), repent of their
sins (Acts 3:19), confess Christ (Acts 8:37), and be baptized (immersed) for the remission of your sins (Acts 2:38 and
Romans 6:1-6). Upon your obedience to these requirements of the Lord He will add you to the church of Christ (Acts 2:41; 47
and I Corinthians 12:12-13; cf. Romans 16:16). One must then remain faithful (Colossians 1:23 and Revelation 2:10). There is
more to cover than is here. Contact me today for a study: brianyeager@wordsoftruth.net
sins (Acts 3:19), confess Christ (Acts 8:37), and be baptized (immersed) for the remission of your sins (Acts 2:38 and
Romans 6:1-6). Upon your obedience to these requirements of the Lord He will add you to the church of Christ (Acts 2:41; 47
and I Corinthians 12:12-13; cf. Romans 16:16). One must then remain faithful (Colossians 1:23 and Revelation 2:10). There is
more to cover than is here. Contact me today for a study: brianyeager@wordsoftruth.net
| Edited by: Brian A. Yeager |
| When the Role of a Man is Taken Too Far By: Brian A. Yeager |
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| It’s Not About Clubbing Her Over the Head! |
| Her Price is Far Above Rubies |
| Conclusion |
We certainly can see that the Lord wants the wife to submit to the husband
(Ephesians 5:22 and I Peter 3:1). God wants the husband to be the head of the wife
(Ephesians 5:23). This headship is just as Christ is head over the church (Ephesians 5:
24). I know of men who profess to be Christians and they feel there is equality of
headship in the home. One supposed “elder” once told me that I should be ashamed of
being the “ruler” of my house. This “elder” ignored the truth. A godly man is one that
“ruleth well his own house” (I Timothy 3:4). The man is to be the ruler over his
household and the wife is to be in submission to him, according to the Scriptures
(Colossians 3:18 and I Peter 3:4-6).
The roles of the husband and wife are misunderstood in our modern society.
However, our goal is not to state what is clear and has already been proven above. The
point of this article is to assure that we aren’t taking God’s instructions on the role of man
and woman too far. Sin is not just falling short of God’s instructions, but also taking them
further than God intended (Deuteronomy 5:32, Proverbs 30:5-6, I Corinthians 4:6 and
Revelation 22:18-19).
Since it is sinful to go further than God has authorized, we must rightly divide the
roles of men and women (II Timothy 2:15). There is a common illustration that is used of
men, wherein we are described as “cavemen” (man has and still lives in caves from time
to time) hitting our women upon the head with a club and then dragging them where we
want them. To draw upon a false prehistoric time is ignorant. The illustration is typically
wrongly applied. However, it is one that is understood. It is valid, only to the degree that
some men think they are ruling their homes scripturally when they are really going too far
with their headship. For those, this illustration may be, sadly, correct.
(Ephesians 5:22 and I Peter 3:1). God wants the husband to be the head of the wife
(Ephesians 5:23). This headship is just as Christ is head over the church (Ephesians 5:
24). I know of men who profess to be Christians and they feel there is equality of
headship in the home. One supposed “elder” once told me that I should be ashamed of
being the “ruler” of my house. This “elder” ignored the truth. A godly man is one that
“ruleth well his own house” (I Timothy 3:4). The man is to be the ruler over his
household and the wife is to be in submission to him, according to the Scriptures
(Colossians 3:18 and I Peter 3:4-6).
The roles of the husband and wife are misunderstood in our modern society.
However, our goal is not to state what is clear and has already been proven above. The
point of this article is to assure that we aren’t taking God’s instructions on the role of man
and woman too far. Sin is not just falling short of God’s instructions, but also taking them
further than God intended (Deuteronomy 5:32, Proverbs 30:5-6, I Corinthians 4:6 and
Revelation 22:18-19).
Since it is sinful to go further than God has authorized, we must rightly divide the
roles of men and women (II Timothy 2:15). There is a common illustration that is used of
men, wherein we are described as “cavemen” (man has and still lives in caves from time
to time) hitting our women upon the head with a club and then dragging them where we
want them. To draw upon a false prehistoric time is ignorant. The illustration is typically
wrongly applied. However, it is one that is understood. It is valid, only to the degree that
some men think they are ruling their homes scripturally when they are really going too far
with their headship. For those, this illustration may be, sadly, correct.