Continuing the teaching on the subject of “Bathsheeba’s Burden” from yesterday’s message, the Lord makes it perfectly clear exactly who should be leading in the husband/wife relationship as we learned in previous messages taken from both the Old and New Testament Scriptures. But, as OTR Drivers who spend much time away from home, it will be necessary to make plans to eliminate the obstacles that keep the husband from leading his wife and family.
One of the possibilities is to pray for the Lord to give the husband a day job or a regional job so that he can adequately lead his wife/family. But, in the meantime, the wife must stay under the authority of her husband and do what is necessary in order to make Godly decisions to keep the home running properly for she is called to rule the home, obeying her own husband, as clearly commanded in the pastoral epistles. Notice, also, the consequences for those who do not obey: “I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully, For some are already turned aside unto Satan. (I Timothy 5:14)
“That they [the older women] may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the Word of God be not blasphemed.” (Titus 2:4, 5)
But, in many homes these commands from the Lord are being ignored and the wife/mother has taken the role of the husband/father. Some wives are forced into this position, some take the position and enjoy the authority of leader, others unknowingly are doing the same but in essence in all three “The spiritual strength/discernment of the husband/father” is given away, and the home/family is not under God-ordained leadership. Financial. Marital, and all types of Family problems will be the result when the man gives away his strength/authority and position in the home to his wife.
When I was studying for the ministry a fellow employee who was a Christian told me this story about his parents. His mother was saved later in life when she was a Grandmother. When she learned the truths concerning leadership in the husband/wife relationship discussed above she decided to make changes in how things were done in her home.
Until that point in their marriage, she was the one who made the decisions concerning all things; Financial plans, Marital issues and Family decisions. She planned the budget alone, she planned vacations, she planned when, where and how all things were done and her husband who was not saved was in the FDH syndrome. Fat, Dumb and Happy!! He loved every minute of it because she was doing all the things he was supposed to do as he just cruised through life.
But, when she told him that she was born-again and wanted to start a new life according to the Bible he was astounded. Now, he would have to take his position as leader and do the things he was supposed to be doing all along. Needless to say things were stirred up in that home/relationship for quite some time. But, eventually, he too was saved and the Lord received the glory, for she did not preach to him or lord this new truth over him, but simply lived the life and without the Word her husband was saved exactly as the Scripture teaches in I Peter 3:1-7! The Lord is good, praise His Name!!
When I taught these same truths to a believing wife/Driver she was surprised! She had not heard any teaching on this subject and was laboring over a husband that was lost in the Jehovah’s Witness Cult and he was her driving partner! But, she now has hope that the Lord will work in the heart of her husband as she lives the life of a loving obedient wife!
So, at the beginning of this New Year let us start with a new resolve to get our families under the blessing of God as we make decisions to put things in order and do exactly what it takes to have Biblical relationships with our mates and our families, for as we live in the time when the Lord’s coming is drawing near, the necessity for Godly families is high!
This is the second day of a New Year and our emphasis has been on the family and not completely focused upon the Proverb for the day. So, in brief, we want to emphasize the importance of these first two Proverbs and encourage each Driver to read the Proverb for the day and check out our continuing messages on these important daily nuggets of wisdom.