Stop and think for a minute. If I describe a woman’s responsibility in the home as a helper who is submissive and respectful of her husband, what images pop into your mind? Do you think of a strong, competent woman with lots of influence? Or did you automatically think mousey and passive, having no thoughts of her own and just simply waiting to be bossed around?
Would it surprise you to know that God had the strong, competent woman in mind when He created woman and her position in the home?
Our culture, and, unfortunately, even our Christian culture, has distorted many of these terms to abuse and misuse women. In the next few podcasts we will take a closer look at these aspects of woman’s responsibility in the home, so we can thrive and embrace our responsibilities with joy.
Let’s jump right in with man as the head.
“For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Saviour.”
“For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Saviour.”
God has designated the husband as the head of the relationship. “For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Saviour.” – Ephesians 5:23
This is purely an organisational, not value driven, command. You can’t have two bosses; there has to be someone who has the final say. In the home, this responsibility has been given to the husband but just as any wise CEO consults with his department heads before making decisions, a wise husband will always consult with his wife and even delegate final decisions to her in her areas of strength. She is his equal in terms of the value she brings to the relationship.
The man’s responsibility is to lead, love and serve, as a servant-leader, not a dictator. Christ gave us an example of leadership in the home when as head of the church, he washed the disciples’ feet and gave his life for the church.
Christ is the husband’s role model. The wife’s response to her servant-leader husband is respect and submission.
Patty has a degree in Family Studies from New Mexico State University in the US. She has lived in Africa for 45 years and has worked in Eswatini, Zimbabwe and South Africa. She and her husband, Ken, have been married for thirty-five years and have two children. They have been working with FamilyLife, a ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ, for thirty-four years.
Patty has a degree in Family Studies from New Mexico State University in the US. She has lived in Africa for 45 years and has worked in Eswatini, Zimbabwe and South Africa. She and her husband, Ken, have been married for thirty-five years and have two children. They have been working with FamilyLife, a ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ, for thirty-four years.
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