Titus 2:5
‘To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. ‘
Welcome to Part 3 of the Titus 2:5 series. This is a tough post for me as I feel that I fall so far short in this area of being obedient to my husband. Therefore, I tend to shy away from teaching the younger women on this topic. I guess sometimes I do better than others! However, I see that this is such a fundamental teaching from the bible for marriage and for wives in particular.
Mention the word obedience today, even amongst Christian woman and it is either going to get laughed at, frowned upon or worse! After all, aren’t we beyond all that old fashioned marriage stuff where the man is the head of the home and gets to be the boss!?
An Ungodly Movement
The feminist movement has done and excellent job at emasculating men and putting woman in a position of bondage. Thus tearing apart families and confusing the children, ending up with a weak and lost society as a whole. Even more scarily is that the Church generally agrees that we should move beyond those old fashioned ways and have women out in the world and children in institutions as young as 6 weeks old.
What is His perfect will for us as married woman?
Firstly, I am not judging you if you are a working mother or wife and I am not accusing you of not being obedient to your husband if you are in this position. I do not know every situation and circumstance and it is not my place to judge your personal life! Why I am writing about this, is to simply share the scriptures and what God has opened my eyes to regarding them. This Titus 2:5 series is to encourage you to go back to God’s word and see for yourself what His perfect will is, for us as married woman.
The distorted view of biblical submission
Sadly, the word of God and the topic of submission and obedience for married woman has been twisted and distorted. This has lead to a very wrong and fearful view of it, where woman think that they may need to become a slave to their husband’s if they were to follow it. Or that suddenly their husband will turn into some tyrant who asks her to do some wicked sinful act! This is not what God has planned for a healthy marriage!
The word ‘obedient’ in Titus 2:5 refers to:
1) to arrange under, to subordinate
2) to subject, put in subjection
3) to subject one’s self, obey
4) to submit to one’s control
5) to yield to one’s admonition or advice
6) to obey, be subject
Biblical submission is not slavery
Submission is not the same as slavery. Submission is a choice. It is an act of free will to submit to someone. A husband should not demand a wife to submit to him. He can lovingly lead her to the truth and what’s right. He should not force her. God’s perfect plan for marriage, was to be a picture of Christ and the Church/his people. Where He is the good Shepard who gently leads and the flock or bride of Christ, is to lovingly follow.
Willingly serve one another
A good husband and leader is dedicated to the care of the wife and family, as much as the wife should be dedicated to her husband. Will things work out perfectly within this dynamic? No not perfectly, as we humans are fallen and prone to sin. However, we are to fulfil our roles as best we can. In doing so, we not only please and glorify God but we also give our marriages the best possible environment in which to thrive.
An obedient wife trusts God
An obedient wife is one who is not in rebellion to her husband. She willingly and joyfully yields to his plans, trusting that God is in control of her life. God has put her husband as her earthly Authority. Of course her husband is not above God and does not have the final authority over her. However as long as her husband is not asking her to sin according to the bible, then she should follow her husband’s lead without conflict. Yes she has a voice and is allowed to share her views in a respectful way. Ultimately the finial decision is up to the Head of the home, her husband.
God’s commandments for woman
There are so many ways in which a wife can show obedience to her husband. Too many to mention in this post but here are some verses regarding a woman’s submission to ponder and pray about:
‘Wives, submit to your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and he is the Savior of the body.
‘Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. ‘ Ephesians 5:22-24
‘Likewise you wives, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear.’ 1 Peter 3:1-2
‘Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you.’ Genesis 3:16
‘But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. ‘ 1 Corinthians 11:3
‘For man is not from woman, but woman from man.’ 1 Corinthians 11:8
‘Wives submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.’ Colossians 3:18
‘Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. ‘ 1 Timothy 2:11
May God bless you,
Megan