Gen.2:18
WHAT ARE THE PROPER ROLES FOR A HUSBAND & WIFE TO OCCUPY IN A MARRIAGE?
1. EQUALITY, Gen. 1:26-29
-The husband & wife stand in quality before God--in His image. They both can walk close to God.
-They are commissioned equally by God--dominion over the earth, go into all the world to preach the gospel.
-God gave equal provision for all their needs.
2. UNITY, Gen. 2:2l-24
One flesh - Mt. 19:6, "What God hath joined together..."
One family - (Many problems caused by in-laws) finances, relatives, children, religion sex
Only relationship God calls one flesh; when a couple comes together in marriage, that is to be the primary relationship in their lives.
One mind - in heart & mind.
3. DIVERSITY, Gen. 1:27
-There is a difference between a man & woman--they don't think, act, or do alike.
-Gen. 2:18 - man to keep the garden, name the animals.
And then God was to make a helper. Adam had a certain role to fill in the creation where God had placed him, & now He is going to make a woman who understand equally by his side unified to him, one flesh, but who is also to fill a certain role in relation to him. God has ordained roles in marriage.
-Ps. 8 - What is man...a little lower than the angels.
-Heb. 2 - Jesus...a little lower than the angels, which means when He became flesh He was placed a little lower than the angels as to His role.
-When it comes to the family structure God has ordained a role for the husband & wife in marriage, & if violated it brings problems into the marriage.
The roles of husband & wife:
Husband: responsibilities & leadership, primarily.
Wife: support & submission (or follow husband's leadership), primarily.
-First sin: inversion of roles in marriage, Gen. 3:6 - Eve gave to Adam; Adam was acting irresponsible, for he knew he was not to eat of that tree. Adam should have told Eve, no; he was not deceived (1 Tim. 2:13-14).
-Gen. 3:17 - Adam, because you listened to your wife when it was your personal responsibility as to leadership, sin entered into the whole world.
-Illus: Abraham said to Sarah, I need you to protect me, so asked her to lie about their relationship to one another (half-sister)--inversion of roles, instead of him protecting her. Promised a son--willing to let Hagar have a son, & then tragedy. 1 Kings 21:25 - none like unto Ahab...worked wickedness which Jezebel his wife stirred up.
-The greatest thing a mother can do for their children is to teach them to respect their father.
-Illus: A woman vowed to her dying mother that she would not put her half sister, who was mentally & physically impaired, in an institution; she was taking care of her, lifting her day after day, brought on internal hemorrhaging & her doctor said she would die if she didn't quit lifting her sister. Num. 30:3-8 - Can be released from a foolish vow.
-Eph. 5:25 - Love your wife, as Christ...Husbands need to give of themselves to the needs of their wives.
-Husband's responsibility to take the spiritual leadership of the home.
-If a woman is planning to marry a man who does not take spiritual leadership, should not marry, until he fulfills his role.
-Father's responsibility to bring up the children - Eph. 6:4
The leadership is not a place of autocratic dictatorship but it is a place of tremendous responsibility from God--to teach, nourish, protect, lead, guide & care for. Wife is to support him, encourage, follow his leadership, help with the children, sharing together.
Col. 3:18-21, How far should a woman submit to her husband?
As it is fit in the Lord (3:18)
Titus 2:4-5 - A woman's main sphere of activity--the home.
Prov. 31:10-31 - Role of a woman--the home is first priority.
I Peter 3:1-9 - Instructions for a wife with an unsaved husband.
God's standard of roles in a marriage--a wife can live a godly example to an unbelieving husband.
Why do people reject God's standard of roles in a marriage? Because:
1. Ignorant of it, or
2. Knowingly, they are running into the same old problems of sin & selfishness, pride, a rebellious heart, lazy, irresponsible attitude, harsh, critical, unloving, & unwilling to fulfill the role that God has given to a wife & husband in marriage.
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