Tag Archive | women

It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him

Mar14

THE PURPOSE OF WOMAN AS A WIFE

Genesis 2:15-25

When God put man in the Garden of Eden, the man had a purpose. According to Genesis 2:15, he was to dress and keep the Garden. That was his purpose given him by God.

Every animal had a companion. Man did not. In verse 18 God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him”. First God brought every creature to Adam for him to name. Adam gave names to every beast and fowl, but there was still nothing for him.

Finally, God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam; and He formed the woman from one of Adam’s ribs. Then He brought her to the man.

Adam must have been pleased to have this creature made just for him. He said, “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” There is nothing that says he questioned anything about this newest creation of God’s. He accepted her just as she was.

In the next verse, God tells us that man is to leave his parents and become one flesh with his wife. So what can we learn from those few verses about the purpose of woman as a wife?

Woman was created for man. She was created as a help meet, or someone suitable for man. She would meet his needs. She would complete him. She would belong to him, and he would leave behind his mother and his father and become one flesh with her.

This woman was to complete the man but only as his wife. Not as his mistress, not as his slave, but as his wife. That is the woman’s purpose! That is God’s purpose for a wife.

We, as women, should be honored by the place God has given us. He has put us in a position of being loved, cared for, and held in high esteem. What greater place could we hold?

Sandra Oliver

Things I can do in the name of the Lord

Jan31

This will be the last devotional till 2/10/14.

 

How Can I Go to School for the Lord?

Romans 13:1,2 – because I am commanded to obey the government

1 Timothy 5:8 – because I am commanded to provide for my family

How Can I Go to Work for the Lord?

Ephesians 4:28 – because I am commanded to give to God

2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 – because I am commanded to work if I am able

Colossians 3:22-24 – because I’m actually working for Jesus

How Can I Take Out the Trash for the Lord?

Colossians 3:20 – because I must obey my parents

How Can I Eat Lunch for the Lord?

Mark 12:30 – depends on whether I use the strength to serve Him

How Can I Have a Friend for the Lord?

Proverbs 13:20 – depends on the kinds of friends I have

2 Corinthians 5:16,17 – depends on what those friendships are based on

–Beth Johnson

His Mathetria

Oct3

Growing up I was quite confused about what kind of a woman I was supposed to be. There seemed to be so many stereotypes in the world of different women – those who worked and were career focused, those who were stay-at-home moms, and those who magically seemed to do both. I too wanted to do it all, but I wanted to be happy doing it. However as I grew older I learned something more important. True happiness does not come from fulfilling a stereotype of what someone else thinks you should be. True joy comes from discovering the woman God intended you to be.

But what is it that God intended? When God created woman in all of her glory, what was the ideal He had envisioned? To answer that question we must delve into scripture and study the heroines that are recorded there. The Virtuous woman in Proverbs 31 is the epitome of biblical womanhood. The qualities listed there not only show a wife worthy of a king, but also the characteristics of a true follower of the King. Esther saved an entire nation from certain death with her courage and fear of the Lord. Ruth worked hard to provide for herself and her mother-in-law. Deborah led the Israelites into battle and into all wisdom. Mary was seen worthy enough to sit at the feet of the Son of God and listen. Priscilla swayed others into following Christ. They were all “mathetria” or women disciples. They took their God-given talents and used them for his glory and follow Him.

In order for us to follow God as true disciples, we must not follow the worldly stereotypes, whether that be a modern day feminist or a June Cleaver. Instead we should put all of our efforts, talents, and abilities into serving Him. God did not make all women to be contented housewives, but He did make some. God did not make all women to be successful doctors, lawyers, or businesswomen, but He did make some. God did create all women to be disciples of him whether at home or in the work place.

Once we discard the  notions the world has to offer about who is a truly happy woman, then we can embrace the woman God intended us to be his mathetria. Before we become a wife, mother, or career woman, we are first called to serve the Lord. The Great Commission in Matthew 28:16 was given to all Christians, including women.

We must ask ourselves what kind of world would we have if women spent more time trying to be in the service of the Lord instead of fulfilling their own desires? What would our marriages be like if our first priority was to serve God through our union and not just a chance of being loved? What kind of mothers would we be if our first priority was to help our children find their abilities and talents and use them for the Lord and not just themselves? What kind of career women would we be if our jobs were Christ-focused and not just a means of making money or self-fulfillment? What kind of servant would I be if I did my job for myself and did not live for my master? We do have the ability to change the world – one woman at a time.

Christa Bryant