02/03/2022
THE DIVINE DESIGN OF MARRIAGE
(My Bible Reflection and Exposition)
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE: 1 PETER 3:1-7
INTRODUCTION:
Under our Philippine Family Code, marriage is an institution which the State is very interested. Once you enter into it, you cannot just get out unless the court annuls or declares it a nullity. It is a contract with no expiry date and it is only terminated by death or by court order. It is a personal relation and status created when two persons of opposite s*x with minimum age of 18 years old enter into it. It creates rights and duties. It is controlled and regulated by the State.
In the Bible, marriage is meant to be the most intimate of all human relationships. In 1 Peter 3:1-7, God uses Abraham and Sarah in that passage as an illustration for the family and marriage relationship. While their relationship is not perfect or ideal since there was infidelity on the part of Abraham with Hagar, there are principles that Abraham and Sarah learned that we can also learn that will give us a solid foundation for our marriage and homes.
In this reflection, I will share with you the divine design of marriage and the duties of husband and wife.
One:
GODโS DESIGN FOR THE WIFE (1 Peter 3:1-2)
1 Peter 3:1-2 teaches that wives are to submit to their husbands. The reason for this is to put order in the home and family. For there to be order in the home rather than chaos, there must be a head. Anything without a head is dead, and anything with two heads is a freak. This is true, not only in the home, but in the church and in any organization. The Bible makes it very plain that the husband is the head of the wife.
EQUALITY BUT WITH DIFFERENT ROLES
The Bible does not teach that women are inferior. (1 Cor. 11:3) Even in the triune God, God the Father is the head of God the Son. But God the Son is not inferior to God the Father. There is a divine order. This order does not preclude equality. A woman is equal with a man. (Gal. 3:28) In Jesus Christ, we are all one.
However, the devil today is trying to obliterate the differences between male and female. It is the devilโs attempt to make men and women alike under the guise of making them equal. Men and women are equal, but they are not alike. God made us different that He might make us one.
The wife must have an attitude of submission. When the wife has this attitude of submission to her husband, it does not mean that she is inferior. When a husband is the head of the home, it does not mean that he is superior to his wife. As a matter of fact, she may be incredibly superior and more competent than him in certain areas. The husband, as the head of the home, may delegate authority; but he cannot delegate responsibility.
When God gives the man the responsibility of headship in the home, that is a responsibility that the husband can never give away though he may delegate authority.
ADORNMENT OF WOMAN โ
In this passage (vv. 3-4), God tells a woman to make herself beautiful. This is her first duty to her husband, to make him attractive to him. Thus, it is not wrong for a woman to wear jewelry or fix her hair or perhaps wear a modest make up. The woman must dress in a manner that enhances her character. The woman must take care of her body in a healthy shape. The woman is allowedto have her beauty seen. But the greatest beauty of a woman is inward. Concomitantly, the woman must invest in her inner self and develop gentle and quite spirit which is an unfading beauty and of great worth in the sight of God. (v. 4)
HER SUBMISSION and OBEDIENCE โ
In 1 Peter 3:6, like Sarah, the wife must submit to her husband, In her submission, she obeyed her husband Abraham and called her โlordโ or โmasterโ. This is a term of respect, similar to how we might use the word โsirโ today. Sarah spoke respectfully to her husband. A husband desires admiration from his wife. The word โobeyโ means to pay close attention to his needs. A woman ought to ask herself, โWhat can I do to be a helpmeet to my husband, to meet his needs physically, emotionally and spiritually in every way?โ
Two:
GODโS DESIGN FOR THE MAN (HUSBANDS) . (1 Peter 3:7)
In verse 7, God requires far more of the man than He does the woman. Husband must be considerate as they live with the wife. To be considerate is to be kind, attentive to her needs and thoughtful. If the wife must respect the wife, the husband in return must respect her as a weaker partner and as co-heir with God.
HUSBANDS AS PROVIDER โ
Husbands, as a head of the family, you have a greater responsibility. You are designed by God to be the provider in the home. (Gen. 2:15) It is the manโs responsibility to bring in the basic necessities to the home: food, clothing, transportation, etc. If the man does not assume that basic responsibility, then there will be a loss of respect from your wife and children.
Furthermore, the husband is to also give honor to his wife and meet her emotional needs. There are seven basic emotional needs of a wife:
a) She needs the stability and direction of a spiritual leader.
b) She needs to know that she and she alone is meeting the basic needs of her husband that no other woman can meet.
c) She needs to see and learn that her husband delights in her; that he cherishes her as a person.
c) She needs to know that her husband enjoys setting aside quality time for intimate conversation with her.
d) She needs to know that it is the goal of her husbandโs life to protect her in areas of her limitations.
e) She needs to know that her husband is aware of her presence even when he is doing other things; she is not ignored.
f) She needs to know that the goal of her husbandโs life is to invest in her life to help her expand and fulfill her world.
HUSBAND AS PROTECTOR โ (Gen. 2:15)
Adam was told not only to dress the garden but to keep it. The word โkeepโ means โto guard.โ The husband is to shield, guard and defend his family.
HUSBAND AS PASTOR -
The husband is the pastor of the home. (1 Peter 3:7) He should pray for the family. Husband must be prayerful, and so with the wife. Husbands, do you want God to answer your prayers. There is one secret St. Peter reveals in this passage: Be considerate and respect your wives so that nothing will hinder your prayers. Therefore, husbands who cheat and abandon and are harsh to their wives should not expect God to listen and respond to their prayers. Such kind of attitude is a hindrance to prayer to God.
HUSBAND AS LOVER โ
The husbandโs assignment from God is to love his wife as Christ loves the church. (Eph. 5:25-27) The husband is to keep his wife from defilement. The word โwrinkleโ in this passage refers to an inward scar. Women have such tension in their lives because their husbands do not love them as they should. The husband is to make his wife a more radiantly, beautiful Christian. (Joshua 24:15)
CONCLUSION
Do you want to have a godly home? We must read and follow Godโs directions. Wives, submit and obey your husbands. Keep yourselves beautiful as ever. Becoming beautiful (both physically and spiritually) to your husband is your significant responsibility to your husband.
Husbands, your are the provider of the needs of the family. You are the protector, pastor and lover of your wife. Keep it that way always.
Of course, we can never fulfill our respective responsibilities, if you do not have God in your heart. If you have no intimate relationship with God, Repent (turn) from your sins, and turn to Jesus. Ask Him to forgive you of your sins, and acknowledge Him as Lord of your life. (Romans 3:23, Romans 10:9-10, Romans 10:13, Acts 16:31 and John 3:16)
Glory to God!
