A Wife and Mother by God’s Design

God clearly outlined the character traits of a wife and a mother in the Holy Bible, His wonderful masterpiece. God understood how important this position would be so, as He always does, He provided timeless wisdom to order our steps.

Mother:
God found her so special in purpose and design that He took special care in making her. Genesis 2:20b-22, tells us there wasn’t a suitable mate for Adam so God made Eve and presented her to Adam. The passage tells us God took great care when He made her. He made it clear at the conception of humanity that the woman was not to walk behind her husband, under the foot of her husband, and neither was she to Lord over him as He didn’t take the bone from Adam’s back, or foot, or head. He began the process by taking a rib from Adam’s side and set the stage for a partnership that would stand side by side. God fashioned her. He gave her breasts so she would have a place of comfort, a place for her husband and her children to lay their head. She would also be able to provide all the nutrients that her newborn children would need to live. God knew this special time would allow mother and baby to bond and grow in spirit together. God gave women well-defined, curvaceous hips to bear children as they grew from embryo to mature baby. He made her the weaker vessel 1 Peter 3:7. This weakness didn’t make her a second class citizen. On the contrary, it made her more in tune to the needs of others. Her heart was softer. She could freely express herself and shed tears for the less fortunate. She was fashioned with intuition, so when her children or her husband came home and didn’t say anything, she instinctively would know something was troubling them and she would make her presence and love known to them.

God made mothers to be the moral barometer of the world. By the very softness of her heart she challenges men to see the needy and oppressed in a different light (Proverbs 31:20). Because of her moral excellence her children rise up and call her blessed (Proverbs 31:28). God made the mother wise. Proverbs 31:26 says “she opens her mouth with wisdom and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.” Ladies, do you teach your children with kindness, or with hate and disdain? Can your children feel your love and know without a doubt that you love them no matter what? Do you tell your children you are so glad God gave you such special bundles of joy? A mother and a wife ensures that the household runs smoothly. She doesn’t allow anything harmful to enter her home. She guards all doors and windows with prayers that prevent intruders from entering. She also makes the most of her time in the day (Proverbs 31:27). This means she does not spend her day watching soap operas, gossiping on the phone, sleeping, or the like; she is committed to meeting the needs of her family. If necessary, she works to help supplement resources in the home (Proverbs 31:24). She dresses with

wholesome and pure consciousness (Proverbs 25a). She has a positive outlook on life and ensures that her family does also (Proverbs 25b). She sets the example for her daughters to emulate as they grow older and sets a model for her sons to strive for when choosing a mate. This lines up with the admonishment in Proverbs 22:6, train up a child in the way he should go, when he is old he will not depart from it.


Wife:
Proverbs 31:10 says, “Who can find an excellent wife? For her worth is far above jewels.” This kind of wife has the trust of her husband. Because of this trust he can focus on his role as provider and head of the house. The word of God tells us there will be no lack in the home, when a man has a wife he can trust and depend on to meet his needs (Proverbs 31:11). The scripture defines a wife as one who is better than jewels. “She does her husband good and not evil all the days of her life.” My, my, this wife God designed speaks life into her husband and never death (Proverbs ). She is his cheerleader, his counselor and his friend. She doesn’t speak death into her husband and she refuses to entertain words from friends or family that do not edify him (Proverbs 31:12).

Proverbs 12:4 tells us a woman who shames her husband is as rottenness to his bones. This woman fronts her husband out in front of his friends, family and co-workers. She shows him up every chance she gets. She takes pride in ripping him apart with her tongue. She uses her body as a weapon of submission. It is better for a husband to live in the corner of a roof than in a house with a contentious nagging wife. Proverbs continues the thought by saying it is better for a husband to live in a desert land, than to live with a contentious and vexing woman. Ladies if your husband no longer comes home and does not wish to spend time with you, take personal inventory and see if you are that nagging, get-on-your-last-nerve type of spouse.

An excellent wife is her husband’s crown. All of his friends, family, and associates know he has been truly blessed with a wonderful wife because of the way she carries herself. Get this, ladies, his boys are green with envy! (Proverbs 31:23). When you walk in the way of God’s design your husband sings your praises to you personally and to the world publicly because you fear the Lord. Your husband looks to your heart and not your body so you don’t have to trip about how much weight you’ve put on, or that beautiful woman who started working at his office, or the sister who started attending your church. Your husband only has eyes for you!

When a man finds a wife he finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord. (Proverbs 18:22)  Pay close attention ladies. You are NOT the hunter. Let the man do the hunting, you just wait to be found. By waiting and then ultimately being found, you bring favor with the Lord into your husband’s life. My, my, my how precious you are!

Finally, an excellent wife is submitted to the authority of her own husband (Ephesians -23). Now before you say, “You lost me there,” reread the top part of this article. If you embrace God’s design for a wife and mother and you believe you fit the bill, this should be a no brainer. You do not have to forget who you are and forgo your identity and your creativity. It simply means your husband is the head of the house as designed by God. You must submit to him as unto the Lord when the instruction given lines up with the word of God. God is not telling you to submit if you are asked or told to do something directly contrary to His word. Pray that your husband is hearing from God and trust that he follows God’s instruction. This passage does not mean you play no role in the decision making process or your input has no value. It just means that after all discussions have been made known and thoroughly explored, you allow your husband to make the final decision. You are no less an important part of the development of your household.

So you see, in His rich word God has laid out how to become a wife and a mother after His own heart. As you celebrate Mother’s Day I remain prayerful that the words provided will minister to your heart and all is well with you and your family.

1 comment: