Scripture Focus: John 13
“The LORD God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.’” —Genesis 2:18, NASB
"Woman was made by God to meet man's deficiency" --John MacArthur1
God designed a beautiful, complementary union between man and woman that would function in harmony. He created man first and gave specific responsibilities to him before woman ever appeared on the scene. And yet, although God designed man as the leader and gave him the responsibility of headship, this in no way implies that he occupies a superior position in relation to the woman.
John Piper describes the leadership role of man in this way: “The call to leadership is not a call to exalt ourselves over any woman. It is not a call to domineer, or belittle or put woman in her place. The call to leadership is a call to humble oneself and take the responsibility to be a servant-leader in ways that are appropriate to every different relationship to women.”2
In the woman’s role of helper, she is called to support the man’s leadership and enable him to function in his God-assigned role. And yet the woman’s assigned role is one that requires significant contribution. A married woman, in particular, is to use her God-given gifts and abilities to aid her husband as his partner, bringing to the relationship her distinct strengths and insights as a woman. In this way she will serve as a complement to him.
A two-headed relationship, in which each individual is vying for power and control, is ineffective and will ultimately self-destruct. God turns this way of thinking upside down. He calls for the man to be a servant-leader and the woman to be a helper-partner. Additionally, He calls for the men to cherish and care for their wives, loving them in the same selfless, serving way that Christ loves His Bride, the Church.
Take Time to Reflect
Do you embrace or resent the “helper” role? Do you view this calling as demeaning, of less importance than the man’s role? Read John 13 and reflect on Jesus’ example as a servant-leader. Do you view Jesus as less valuable than the disciples because of His taking a helper’s role in ministering to His disciples? Ask God to reveal any areas of pride that may be causing you to resist the idea of being your husband’s helper.
True Woman Prayer Focus
True Woman ’08 is less than five weeks away and there is still much work to do. Pray for the many Revive Our Hearts team members who are playing supportive, helper roles in preparation for this conference. Ask God to grant His grace, wisdom, patience, and unity. Pray that these men and women may be able to serve with joy.
1John MacArthur, The MacArthur Study Bible (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2006), 19. (NOTE: Taken from Gen. 2:18 Study notes)
2John Piper, What’s the Difference? (Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books, 1990), 38.
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Comments
on Friday, September 5, 2008 at 8:15 am
on Friday, September 5, 2008 at 9:36 am
What a beautiful thought...Christ as the head of the marriage! That is exactly what God has in mind. He explains that to us in Ephesians 5:22-33. Christ is the head of the church (which would include every marriage of 2 believers), and husbands are to love their wives as Christ does the church. This is the visible demonstration to the world that God desires for all to see: husbands loving their wives in such a way that others can observe the love of Christ in action!
In that same chapter wives are told to submit to their husbands. As wives publicly display the same beautiful picture of humility and submission that we see demonstrated by Christ (Philippians 2:1-8, I Peter 2:21-3:6), then the world will see a visible example of Christ's humility in action!
God desires to use the marital relationship as a physical picture of His relationship to the church. Ephesians 5:23 tells us that the husband is the head of the wife, just as Christ is head of the church.
Tami, I am so excited that you are doing the True Woman Devotional. I pray that all of us will be conformed more to the image of Christ, will love Him more and demonstrate more and more of what He is like to all that we encounter. I pray that our marriages will cause others to see the transformational power of the gospel and if they don't know Christ, because of the love of Christ at work in our marriages, they will want to know Him!
Bless you,
Kimberly Wagner
on Friday, September 5, 2008 at 11:18 pm