“Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the work, they may be won over without words but by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives….Your beauty should come from your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy woman of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful.”
- 1 Peter 3:1-5
It is interesting that this was the verse that I read today. I was just talking with a friend about what we had observed with wives and how they treat their husbands. Or how we treat our own for that matter. The Bible is very clear that wives are to be submissive to their husbands. I know woman don’t like to hear this and can be turned off by this verse.
When you look at what it means for the woman to be submissive here, the NIV study Bible says, “Inferiority is not implied by this passage. The submission is one of role or function necessary for the orderly operation of the home.” That puts a new spin on the verse.
When you think about it woman for some reason try to dictate, demand and control in the home. Things should be a certain way, the husband should act a certain way or do what we need them to do in order for the house to function properly. How well does this work our? It doesn’t.
Even wonder why your home can be so chaotic and why the husband doesn’t seem to lead the way you think he should? Well, the reason things are this way is because we as wives but in and try to be in control. It doesn’t work to have two leaders and no followers. The word is clear that woman are to be submissive.
Imagine living in a peaceful home where the husband is allowed to lead and you can follow knowing that its what God has called you both to do. This does not mean the husband is allowed to assert full control over the wife and do whatever he wants because the Bible is also clear that men and woman are equal and to be partners. It does mean allowing each person to fulfill the role God has called them to.
This verse even talks about how a woman can win over her non-Christian husband by her acts and that beauty comes from a quiet and gentle spirit. Wives what kind of spirit have you been showing to your husband? Is it controlling, overbearing, needy, complacent, disrespectful and contemptuous or is it one of gentleness, kindness, love, patience and submission? Think about it, if you have the first attributes, I can pretty much guarantee that you are not being submissive and your household can feel very tense at times. If you have the second, you may feel peace and comfort knowing you are living how God has called you.
Living in submission to our husbands is not easy all the time. Living with loving characteristics and behavior that reflects inner beauty is not always easy either. Just because its not easy doesn’t mean we don’t try and when we try and give up, we try again. It is a process. Our sinful nature will always want to direct us to try to control our husbands. If we were naturally submissive, this wouldn’t be an issue.
I want to challenge the woman out there to try to put their husbands in the place that God has put them as the head of the household. Woman try to be submissive for the sake of order in the home. Try to have a gentle and quiet spirit and see what results. Men are not stupid idiots who cant lead if given the chance. Let them be who God called them to be, men of leadership and integrity. When we try to lead we squelch the spirit and can destroy our own home. Be a person of action and practice what the Word says.
Thought for the Day: Take it one day at a time. Take today and be quiet and gentle allowing your husband to lead…today, the next day and the next then let it build till you can see he truly is who God has called him to be.
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