Ponder and Pray

Poignant statement: “There is nothing nobler or more admirable than when two people who see eye to eye keep house as man and wife, confounding their enemies and delighting their friends” Homer

Subject: The Confident Couple
Scripture: Ephesians 5:

Last week I had the privilege to speak at a wedding reception and after the service many Christians and several Hindu people came to thank me for the message. In the message I had emphasized that we as Christians should and must have Biblical view on marriage. Due to lack of time I shared only the tiny issue of submission of wives to their husbands and love of husbands to their wives. Here are few thoughts for you to consider as well.

We need to know that in the eyes of God there is complete equality between man and woman. We are co-heirs of eternal life, equal in church life, co-founder of the family and must have complete equality in society as well. Wives are not to be treated as a doormat but as “sangini” in all areas of life. However in order to keep a healthy relationship between husband and wife there has to be some shared responsibility too.

The wives are commanded to “Submit” This word is viewed with great suspicion and disapprovingly. Before we begin to already have negative thinking let us remember we are called to submit one to another out of reverence for Christ in Ephe. 5:21.5:21. So it is not only wives but we all as saints need to be submitted one to another. It also means to put ourselves voluntarily under our brothers and sisters. How many church splits and conflicts can be avoided if we take this verse seriously! Let me tell you what it really means in practical term when it comes to wives:
– Submission as a woman of God as Church submits willingly to her Savior.
– It is functional not because men are superior to women. Gal 3:28
– A husband can fully care a submissive wife.
– Submission out of love and privilege rather than force or helplessness
– Submission is part of the need of a well ordered society.

The man has more and deeper responsibility than the wife. He is to love his wife as Christ loves the Church. It is the limitless and unconditional love of Christ. It is really not possible yet this is the extremity of love we should be showing to our wives. We need to plead before God in our prayer for such a love. This love cannot come from us unless we really love the Lord Jesus and out of the abundance of His love we can love our wives. Let us look at Ephesians and see four beautiful truths which exemplify the love of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Sacrificial Love-Jesus gave his life for the church and so should a husband.
Purifying Love- Jesus by His blood purifies the church. The husband should also make sure that his wife grows in holiness and inner beauty. He must carefully and gently nurture his wife so that she grows in the Lord.
Caring Love- Jesus is concern for His Bride the church and looks after her. Just as husband takes care of his body so should he care for his wife. There is in many of our mind that a wife is to look after the house, the children and warm a husband’s bed. But you are to care for your wife and her needs must be above your own. Radical thinking but totally Biblical.
Eternal love The most important point I want to emphasize is marriage is ‘till death do us part’ and so let us work hard to make our marriage work and let us be a blessing for each other, our children, our church and our society as well. The Bible says in Genesis 2:24, “for this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife and they will become on flesh”

The most blessed thing to have in a church setting is a loving couple. They not only are a glowing example of love but directly and indirectly play as a role model for the folks in the church. Those of us who are leaders in the church should not take for granted our spouse but carefully and lovingly develop each other so that together we be a blessing to the people we come in contact with us. In order to keep your marriage grow strong each passing year, pray for each other, have meaningful talk and create an environment where both can grow in all aspect of life. Remember you are married for life and so the only way to true joy and contenment is to learn to live with each other. It takes time, frustration but keep at it and the Lord will bless you.

Prayer: Lord, Help us to establish home where the love of husbands is like the love of Jesus and the submission of wives is as the church so that the couple may together grow in all aspect of their lives, raise a God fearing family and be a blessing to the church and the society.

Republished in new layout on 8/20/2013