"Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them
do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of
their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives." 1 Peter
3:1-2
"I am having a real problem with something that I need input from you guys,"
said the lady in our fellowship group. "My husband wants to make a major
purchase that I am opposed to. We cannot afford it right now. I understand what
the Bible says about headship in the home, but what do I do when I totally
disagree with his decision?" The men in the group looked at each other,
realizing the sensitive nature of such a question, especially in today's
society.
Then someone said, "You really only have a few options if you adhere to the
principle that God has entrusted the man as the leader in the home. God has
placed you under the umbrella of His protection as well as your husband. There
are times when he will not make the right decision. Does that mean God is not
protecting you? No. There may be several things working here. God may be testing
your own obedience to this principle. He may use you to open up your husband's
spiritual life due to your obedience and submissive spirit. Your obedience may
cost your family something, but it will be beneficial in the long term. Your
alternative is to rebel and pay him back for his decision by withholding your
love from him, which is often what a wife does in this situation. It becomes a
vicious circle of paybacks. My suggestion is to tell your husband how you feel
about his decision and the impact you feel it will have on you and your family.
If he still wants to make the purchase, you must let him do it and support him.
What happens next will rest in God's hand as your ultimate protector."
A few weeks later our sister in Christ came to our meeting. "I have some
wonderful news. We did make the purchase. However, we were able to make it in
such a way that we did not go into debt and I was able to support my husband. I
have already seen a change in his attitude toward me by the way I responded to
him in this. It has been a real lesson for me. I see him much more open to
spiritual things since I made this decision and supported him, even though I
disagreed with it."
God has made man and woman equal in His sight. Yet He has given each a different
role to play in marriage. Husbands must answer to God for their leadership in
the home. They will be judged for that leadership. When a wife submits to that
leadership, God protects her from wrong decisions of that husband, although
sometimes it may not appear that way at first.
You can trust God to protect you in your decisions that are made in obedience to
His Word.
The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it (1 Thessalonians 5:24).
Excerpted with permission from the book TGIF Today God Is First, by Os Hillman,
copyright 2000, Destiny Image Publishers, Reprinted by permission. For free
daily email subscription to TGIF Today God Is First marketplace meditations,
visit www.marketplaceleaders.org
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