GOD’S COMMANDMENTS TO WIVES to be submissive to their husbands(Eph. 5:23-24; 1 Pet. 3:1-5; Col. 3: 18) are not meant to give the impression that women are weaklings, underlings or that they are “inferiors” in the marriage relationship. Far from it!
Neither is the word “HELPER” used to describe her purpose in Genesis 2: 18 meant to create the notion that women haven’t much to offer if not dressing of beds, cooking the family meals and making babies.
Our anchor Bible passage presents a housewife that’s openly called “A GREAT WOMAN”. In the entire account of herself and her husband, her Man is no where referred to as being “GREAT”. When you look closely at their story, it’s the woman that connected to Elisha the Prophet, the highest Minister of God in Israel in their time; testifying that she was an audacious soul. She was the one who came up with the idea of a building project for the Man of God; showing that she was intelligent and foresighted. When Elisha was “pressed” in his spirit to release a Prophet’s blessing in the family, he didn’t call her husband: it was the woman he called. When their son died, it was her Faith that brought him back to life; a sign that she was spiritually strong. I’m strongly inclined to believe that she was, like the Virtuous Woman of Proverbs 31, the “Minister of Finance” of her family.
Our lesson this morning is drawn from the godly and pious attitude, conduct and behaviour of this great woman towards her husband despite the fact that she was great, rich and “the moving spirit” of her family.
In verse 9 of our scripture passage, we can see how she POLITELY presented the project she had conceived:
“Let us make a little chamber, I PRAY THEE, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed…” (2 Kings 4:10a)
She accorded her husband due respect and went through the due process. She did not subtly attempt to “steal the show.”
Some women would sideline their husband upon getting such an idea, start the building and even go far before informing him about it. To what end? So that they would take the credit at the end of the day. But not this woman. She wasn’t hungry to say, “Hahaha, I built the house for the Prophet!” She instead wanted to be able to say together with her husband: “WE BUILT the Man of God a Guest House. To God alone be all the glory!”
The Great Woman of Shunem wasn’t just rich, she was devout.
There was no pride, no haughtiness, no “showing-off spirit” or bragging in her. No arrogance.
Down through the ages, it has pleased God to bless some wives more than their husbands and He’s still doing it. However, all such wives need to understand that God does this not to spite their husbands or to give them the ground to set their husbands at nought. He does so to make such wives serve Him(God) even better in their marital calling as HELPERS to their husbands.
In putting more money and influence in your hands than your husband’s, God is simply funnelling His funds and resources THROUGH YOU to your husband and your family.
Nothing God gives you should make you swollen-headed as to despise or belittle your husband.
Promotion at the workplace, government appointments, a litany of Awards and titles; connection with the movers and shakers in the society, etc, must never make you disrespectful and haughty towards your husband who married you and whose name you bear.
When you’re humble and submissive to your husband despite the obvious fact you’re richer, more connected, more sought after, more travelled and perhaps even more educated than him, your submissiveness beautifies and adorns you with honour.
Many other wives and unmarried young women would see you as a role model to look up to and emulate.
🍷🍗 TAKE-HOME LESSON: WHEN AS A WIFE YOU’RE RICHER THAN YOUR HUSBAND, BE HUMBLE. SUBMIT TO HIS AUTHORITY AS GOD COMMANDS.
NEVER GIVE ROOM TO PRIDE, ARROGANCE AND HAUGHTINESS AND GOD WILL CONTINUE TO BLESS YOU.
💕❤️ TONIGHT’S ONE FLESH ASSIGNMENT IN THE BEDROOM
Reread today’s devotional piece and discuss it soberly.
🍏🍎GOD RESISTS THE PROUD AND GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE! PRIDE GOES BEFORE DESTRUCTION, AND A HAUGHTY SPIRIT BEFORE A FALL!🍎🍏
💃💃 HAPPY NEW MONTH! 🗓️🗓️
🎼🎶🎻🪗🎶🎼
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