LOVEBIRDS' DEVOTIONAL

Enriching Matrimonies

THE SHUNAMITE COUPLE (PT 3)

Scripture:
‘Please, Read From Your Bible 2 Kings 4:18-23’
(2 KINGS 4:18-23)

๐Ÿฅ‘๐ŸGood morning, Dearly Beloved.
Please, before you read further, kindly ensure that you read our scripture passage for today, if you’ve not yet done so.

๐Ÿฅ‘๐ŸIn that passage, the son of the Shunamite Couple who was born through the prophetic ministry of Prophet Elisha went to his father on the farm.

๐Ÿฅ‘๐ŸWhen he suddenly began complaining of a headache, the father sent him to his Mother. Why? After all, she wasn’t a Nurse. Well, he sent her to him and she sat him on her knees where he suddenly died, after a while! An only son that was born after several years of barrenness! You’d expect this woman to scream for people to gather but not this housewife. She calmly placed him on the Prophet’s bed in the Guest House, locked the door and left.

๐Ÿฅ‘๐ŸEven when her husband asked why she needed a Servant and an Ass, she simply said “It Shall Be Well”!

๐Ÿฅ‘๐ŸWhat lessons can we learn from this couple today?

๐Ÿฅ‘๐Ÿ(1) Lesson 1: In Some Marriages, The Wife Has A Stronger Personality, Is The Moving Spirit And The Divine Channel Of Blessings

๐Ÿฅ‘๐ŸAs in all marriages, the husband of the Shunamite Woman was unarguably the Head of their marriage union.

๐Ÿฅ‘๐ŸHowever, a careful study of their union easily shows that she was the moving spirit of that family.

๐Ÿฅ‘๐ŸIt was through her that Prophet Elisha came into their home. The idea of building a Guest House for the Prophet was birthed in her. Her long lasting hospitality was what ignited the restless quest of the Prophet to bless her; and that led to the birth of their only son. We could go on and on.

๐Ÿฅ‘๐ŸWhy were blessings not rolling in through the husband? Nothing was wrong with the husband. God simply chose to pour His blessings into the family through the wife.

๐Ÿฅ‘๐ŸDear Reader, if in your own marriage blessings are pouring in through the wife than they are through the husband, know that it’s not new. It’s perfectly normal.
A husband needn’t feel jealous or embarrassed. Neither should he feel threatened in any way.

๐Ÿฅ‘๐Ÿ(2) Lesson 2: The Husband Had Learned By Experience That His Wife Was A Better Problem Handler And Solver.

๐Ÿฅ‘๐ŸWhen his son complained of a headache, the Shunamite Husband quickly despatched him to his wife. Was he shifting his responsibility to her? No. He knew her capacity for handling problems. And indeed, it was such a good thing he sent him to his mother early enough. If he hadn’t, the boy would have died in his hands. In all likelihood, he didn’t have the Faith to withstand such a shocking tragedy.

๐Ÿฅ‘๐ŸBut when the boy died in the Mother’s arms, her Faith instantly soared. She didn’t shed a tear. She swiftly took a step of faith.

๐Ÿฅ‘๐ŸThe lesson here is that every husband should know the abilities and capabilities of their wife and fully allow them to lead the family in those areas.

๐Ÿฅ‘๐ŸBeing male does not make a Husband “Mr Know-All”. If you don’t know how to handle some things that are ordinarily for men to do, don’t be ashamed to let your wife do it if she’s naturally better gifted in that area.

๐Ÿฅ‘๐Ÿ(3) Lesson 3: Gifted And Well-Connected Wife, Please Be Humble, Be Meek!

๐Ÿฅ‘๐ŸThe Shunamite Woman is introduced as a “Great Woman”(2 Kings 4:8). But the husband is no where called a Great Man.

๐Ÿฅ‘๐ŸReading further in 1 Kings chapter 4, you’ll see that the woman was well-connected. She knew the top men of her nation. Yet she was humble. She didn’t in any way behave or conduct herself in arrogance and pride, as to make her husband feel little, inferior and not performing.

๐Ÿฅ‘๐ŸDear Housewife, are you the one putting food on the table, paying the rents and doing other things in the family? Recognise that’s it’s God that’s working through you and be humble and thankful.

๐Ÿฅ‘๐ŸNever get arrogant. Don’t broadcast to the whole world how you’re doing so much while your husband is doing so little. Never behave in any way that will make your husband feel insecure. You are simply functioning as a Helper to him just as God planned in Genesis 2:18.

๐Ÿฅ‘๐ŸIn conclusion:
(a) Spouses, know that it’s normal when the wife is more resourceful than the husband and brings more into the family than the man.
(b) If your wife is a better problem solver or a better financial manager, gladly give her the freehand to do what she’s gifted to do. That doesn’t make the you less manly.
(c) And if as a wife you’re the moving spirit of your family, please know this: it’s God that’s working through you. Therefore, beware of trying to take His Glory. Instead, be humble because God resists the proud. That’s why He struck Nebuchadnezzar with an pestilence that’s worse than insanity.

โค๏ธ๐Ÿ’• TONIGHTโ€™S ASSIGNMENT IN THE BEDROOM
Reread the devotional piece just before bedtime and soberly discuss it.

โœ๏ธ JESUS CHRIST IS CALLING YOU! COME TO HIM TODAY AND BE SAVED!!!

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