A Word to the Wives
by Scott Hamilton on Wednesday, 20th February 2013
On Sunday we spent some time in Ephesians 5: 22-24 looking at the role of the wife in fighting for her family. This is an essential subject to think through Biblically and is all too often fudged or ducked by the church. We had three headline questions that we asked and then rounded off with some practical questions to consider going forward. I promised to post them on the blog so here they are. You can listen to the whole message here.
Headline Questions
Whose sovereignty does my marriage point to? (v.22)
You are up against it from your wedding day- Even if you are not Bridezilla it still trains you to be a glory stealer.
Believing in God's sovereignty in marriage is shown in three convictions:
- Confident that being a wife is a God-given role
- Confident that God is in control
- Confident in the One who keeps your soul
Who is the saviour that my marriage pictures? (v.23)
Following his leadership points to following Jesus: Obedience in this is designed to obliterate what obstructs the Gospel being made obvious in your marriage.
Fretting over his leadership points to him being your functional Jesus: Your spouse is not your saviour. Your identity, hope, peace, joy are to be found in your Heavenly Father not your husband.
There are likely to be two problems submitting to ur husband- you think he is too idle or you have made him into an idol.
Whether you see him as always sitting in the armchair or sitting on the altar something needs to change.
What is the story that my marriage proclaims?
Your marriage is the primary mirror for the message of the Gospel to everyone around you.
Living as a called out wife leads to a life that cries out in worship to a watching world.
Clarity about the grace you have received provides clarity about how 2 respond in grace and reach out with grace.
3 Questions going forward
Am I more given to pray than I am to having my say or getting my way?
Is how I am as a wife defined by who my soul worships or where I get my self-worth?
Does how I conduct myself as a wife point more to a life compelled by the cross or being in constant control?
Wives, submission is actually the highest ambition. That two sinnners can by God’s grace overcome their frequent moments of incompatability to provide a picture of God’s glory in all it’s incomparability.