Your Daily Devotional for July 30, 2007

 

July 30,  2007

 

 

Biblical Responsibility

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

"Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself."

 

Ephesians 5:22-28

 

 

A young couple was once informed that their Aunt Emma needed a place to stay. They graciously invited her to live with them until she found a place of her own. She lived with them for six years and nagged, complained, and griped about everything. One day, Aunt Emma died. On the way home from the cemetery the husband said, "Honey, if I didn't love you, I would have never let your Aunt Emma stay with us." The wife replied, "My Aunt Emma? I thought she was your Aunt Emma."

 

Much like this young couple, there is a lack of communication in many homes today. Many times the husband is busy working to provide for the family, and the wife is either busy working as well or is busy taking care of the children and the home. When a lack of communication takes place, indifference can come into the home.

 

As we learned yesterday, the devil desires for us to be so exhausted from work that we fail to spend time with our children and teach them God's Word. We are now seeing parents that would rather let the media and entertainment of today raise their children than to actively shepherd their children into a loving relationship with God. As parents, we have biblical responsibilities in our home.

 

The husband has the responsibility of working with the wife to lead his family. We learned yesterday that the husband has been given leadership in the home, and he is responsible for guiding the family spiritually. But God also desires that a husband would team together with his wife to guide and nurture their family.

 

Not only should a husband work together with his wife, but he should also love his wife. As we see in our verses today, a husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church. God loved so much that He gave. How much do you love your wife? Do you give her your time, attention, and love? Someone once said, "Love is better displayed than defined." It is vital that a husband and wife work together and love each other in order to guard against indifference in the home.

 

Also, God desires that a wife would encourage her husband and support his role in the family. When the husband and wife are constantly competing, they will have little time to invest in combating indifference in their home. Just as a husband is to submit to God, a wife is to submit to her husband's leadership and seek to encourage him. A wife can encourage her husband through a note, a phone call, or simply an affirming word. As a wife, God desires that you encourage and support your husband.

 

Husband, are you seeking to work together with your wife? Do you show her how much you love and value her? Wife, are you encouraging your husband? Are you supporting him or fighting him? When we realize our biblical responsibilities and seek God's help in fulfilling them, we will be able to guard against indifference in our homes.

 

 

Daily Bible Reading

Psalm 51-53 • Romans 2

 

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