1. Introduction:
And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone;
I will make him a helper comparable to him. (Gen.2:18)
He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favour from the LORD. (Pr.18:22)
Who can find a virtuous wife? for her price is far above rubies. (Pr.31:10)
2. The Wife In The Godly Home:
A. God must be first in your life (Luke 14:26)1. He must be more important than your children or your husband.
B. Your Husband must be second in your life. (Genesis 2:24)
1. God put a man and wife in the garden, not a parent and child.
2. Leave father and mother. Responsibilities for parents and kids
3. Don't build your life around the kids.
4. Go to husband, not parents for encouragement, direction, and support (financial & otherwise.)C. Your basic purpose is to be a helper to your husband (Genesis 2:18)
1. This was the reason for your creation. Do not miss this or you will never be fulfilled as a woman.
D. God protected you with a structure of authority (1 Cor.11:3)
1. Submission is a great responsibility (Eph.5:22-24)
2. Genesis 3:16; 4:7 "Thy desire shall be to thy husband and he shall rule over thee..."
3. Submission is only needed when there is a difference of opinion or judgment.
4. When God says so, it doesn't matter what the authority says.
5. When we agree it won't matter who is the authority.
6. In its essential element, Biblical submission is voluntary.
7. Military term indicating to enlist in the army (as opposed to being drafted).
8. You voluntarily place yourself under the authority of the military officers over you.
9. Don't marry someone you won't submit to!
10. If you don't voluntarily submit, you are disobeying God.
11. His abuse of authority doesn't excuse your refusal to submit.
12. Policeman who give a ticket and then disobeys law himself.
13. Primarily, it is his job to determine the direction of the home, and yours to determine how we move in that direction.
3. The Godly wife's job description.
A. "Whoso finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favour from the LORD." (Pr.18:22)
B. The Christian woman (Titus 2:4,5)1. Love Husband (lit. A husband-lover) Philandros (Philandros) signifies the emotional, friendship type of love, affection.
2. Discreet = Self-controlled.
3. Chaste =innocent, morally pure
4. Homemakers (Keepers at home - KJV) = Workers at home
5. The home is the primary area of responsibility of the wife. She is to oversee (Pr.31:27) the functioning of the home.
6. She does this under the oversight of her husband.
7. Good = Kind
8. Obedient to their own husbands = (Eph.5:22f)
9. To keep God's word from being blasphemed (Spoken evil of)C. Like Sarah (1 Peter 3:1-6)
1. Adorning the inner woman
2. Not condemning outward adorning, (per virtuous woman) but focusing on priority of adornment.
3. Proverbs 11:22 As a ring of gold in a swine's snout, So is a lovely woman who lacks discretion.
4. Don't argue with your husband about the modesty of your daughters clothes.
5. Gentle and quiet = calm and peaceful, not flashing to anger or answering back
6. Don't be a nag
1) Proverbs 27:15,16 A continual dripping on a very rainy day And a contentious woman are alike; Whoever restrains her restrains the wind, And grasps oil with his right hand.
7. Proverbs 19:13 ...the contentions of a wife are a continual dripping (Irritation).
8. Proverbs 21:9 Better to dwell in a corner of a housetop, Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
9. An unhappy wife is a public rebuke to her husband
4. A Godly Mother
I will that the younger women marry, bear children, and guide the house (1 Timothy 5:14)
A. Timothy's mother...there was no-one in the early church like Timothy.
B. Hannah & Samuel...she was the difference in him & Eli's sons.
C. Choose a godly man to be the head of your home1. 2 Corinthians 6:14 "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers"
2. If you want your kids to be secure, LOVE THEIR FATHER!D. Don't take the kids side in matters of discipline
1. Proverbs 19:18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.
2. Don't undermine the discipline in your home
3. Proverbs 13:24 He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly.
4. Proverbs 6:20 My son, keep your father's command, And do not forsake the law of your mother.
5. Don't help them sneak around behind dad's back (Rebekah & Jacob)E. Don't show favoritism to the kids (Joseph & Brothers, Jacob & Esau)