I'm about to wrap up participating in a Bible study about Biblical womanhood, and it has been very good. Something that is on my heart, however, is regarding the strength a Christian wife needs to possess. We can lose sight of this aspect when focusing on softness and submission--qualities that have to exist in a biblical marriage.
To make my point, how about an illustration? As a caregiver of children, do you feel more honored if a child who cannot choose to disobey obeys you, or if a child who could readily go their own way obeys you? If you haven't cared for children, think of a pet. Which fills you with more pride? The rather simple creature you can easily lead about, or the one with intelligence that has been trained and will do what you want?
Translate that, loosely albeit, to marriage.
When a wife submits to her husband, perhaps the end result is all some will care about--submitting, but there are plenty of godly men who prefer a woman who
could go her own way but chooses instead to trust his leadership and abilities when necessary.
My husband is a man with a brilliant mind. In cleaning out our garage and sitting with him as he's gone through old files and projects he's spearheaded, I've been reminded afresh of this aspect of him. I've oft wondered why he chose me above all other women given the caliber of his intellect, and one quality I know he admires is my ability to do whatever needs doing without him if need be. Now, we could both recount times where things went awry because I failed to get his wise counsel, but the things of life that just need 'doing', I can do without him. It needs to be this way; how could he possibly work to provide for our family and do the thinking for both of us?
A godly single man knows the weight of responsibility that will be immediately thrust upon his shoulders upon saying, "I do." In God's eyes, he is now no longer responsible just for himself, but for this beautiful woman standing by his side.
Ladies, what kind of capability would you want if you were in his shoes? Would you want the child who cannot do and make any decisions on their own, or would you want someone who would come alongside you as a partner, very capable, yet willing to submit when the need arose?
There is a strength that adult women must possess--throughout the ages this has been reality. In days of old the godly submissive wife needed to be able to handle killing chickens for dinner, hauling water, teaching children around a small table sometimes for days alone while her husband hunted. In modern times, it will look very different, yet a man still needs to be able to trust his wife can do much of the daily things of life without him.
Yes it is an honor for a man to be called upon when he is needed, but to the degree a capable woman needs, not a child.
