Honoring God’s Plan
Honoring God’s Plan
Wives, submit to your own husbands as to the Lord. (Eph. 5:22)
When my husband decided our family would not attend his grandparents’ sixty-fifth wedding anniversary party in another state, I felt strongly that Matt had made the wrong decision. Not only was I certain his extended family would question our absence, but our own children had also looked forward to seeing their grandparents and cousins. I couldn’t see how Matt’s decision could possibly be best.
Knowing what the Bible says about marriage, I wanted to honor God’s plan for authority in my home. Still, it was difficult when I feared Matt’s decision could wound feelings and damage family unity. Even so, after briefly and respectfully expressing to Matt why I felt we should attend the party, I chose to support his decision. We did not attend the party; and, indeed, we faced some resentment from Matt’s family.
Almost three months after the party, Matt admitted he had learned a lesson from his mistake. He assured me we would never again miss another significant family event if at all possible. I was so thankful I hadn’t nagged him about his decision so he could hear the Holy Spirit instead.
Ephesians 5:23 says, “The husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church.” He has been placed in a position of leadership over his household. His model for leadership is Christ Himself. Ephesians 5:25 says the husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her.
Submission does not mean wives cannot voice their opinions or must endure abuse. In a healthy Christian marriage, husbands value the opinions of their wives and then prayerfully act as the Lord leads.