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I had intended on doing Part 2 of Being a Submissive wife, but I didn’t have the time to work on it this week, so here is the next subject in our Series.
Ellie is the Children’s Church Ministry organizer at our church. She loves ministering to children and puts her whole heart into it. She has put so much thought, time and work into answering this question, I’m goint go break it into 3 parts. Please welcome her as our second guest in the Titus 2 series.
Question: Why is it to important to minister to Children
- King David was a “man after God’s own heart.” His son, Solomon, was raised and indoctrinated under God’s laws and commandments. I Kings 2:1-4 tells us: “…David…charged Solomon his son, saying, ‘…be strong…prove yourself a man… keep the charge of the Lord your God: to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn…” Solomon’s father, his parent, was careful to give a Godly foundation to his son.
- II Kings 12 gives the account of Athaliah. She was the daughter of Jexebel, the most wicked Queen of Israel. She was raised and indoctrinated from childhood to worship Baal. When her son Ahaziah died, she usurped her position as Queen of Judah, continued to worship Baal and idols, built altars for idol worship, and influenced the Israelites to turn from the True and Living God. Her wicked, Godless life and reign was a spiritual destruction to all – all as a result of her totally Godless spiritual foundation.
- After David’s death, Solomon became King of Israel. He asked God, not for riches, but for wisdom which God faithfully gave him.
As King, Solomon became a parent, and wrote many Proverbs. Throughout this Book of the Bible, we find many verses addressed to “My son” which include such charges as “hear the instruction of your father…receive…apply…seek…keep…pay attention…a wise son…a righteous man…a good man…a gracious woman…a virtuous wife.”
These writings were foundational to teach God’s ways and prepare Solomon’s children, and following generations, for a righteous, successful adult life.
1. Jesus Himself was concerned about the acceptance and teaching of children – “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them: for of such is the kingdom of God.” Luke 18:14
2. Paul told Timothy in II Timothy 1:5 and 3:14,15 - “when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also…you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus .”
As a small child, Timothy received knowledge and instruction from God’s laws and commandments. His foundational teaching for eternal life and living a Godly life was from his maternal spiritual influences.
3. From the above examples, we can now realize that the type of spiritual foundation taught to a child can influence his/her adult life. Has the child truly learned of eternal salvation through Jesus Christ? Has he/she learned how to live a God-honoring life?
4. It is the choice of parents, Pastors, Sunday School teachers, and church leaders to -
- Follow God’s command - “teach them diligently to your children …telling to the generation to come that they might know them…that they might set their hope in God and not forget the works of God but keep His commandments.”
- Teach eternal salvation – As a result of recognizing sin, they can then be led to the Savior – the One who forgives their sin and offers eternal salvation from their soul’s punishment -eternal separation from God. They must know that Jesus took their punishment for sin and died in their place. If they ask Him for forgiveness of sin, and ask Him to be their Savior, they can then be assured of life eternal with Jesus Christ in Heaven.
- They must know – “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23
- They must know – “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes on Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
- They must know - how to live a Godly life. “… present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God…do not be conformed to this world…transformed by the renewing of your mind…prove what is…perfect will of God.” Romans 12:1,2
- Be committed to God – teaching foundational truths for the sake of the “generations to come.”
TODAY’S CHILD …
YOUR FUTURE
Yesterday a child was born –
He was God’s gift so wee;
His mother sang her praise
to God
As she held him on her knee.
Today you have him, teacher,
Not to play upon your knee;
But to teach the precious
Word of God
To prepare him for eternity.
Tomorrow he’s your future.
May he on bended knee -
Be able to thank our
God above
For the way you shaped
his destiny.
Marian Olney
I’m excited to be getting this series underway! Our first Guest is Debi. Debi has been married for 36 years, has 2 children and 6 grandchildren. She is the coordinator of the Heart Strings Ministry (ladies ministry) at our church and has taught many bible studies for Ladies and also taught studies with her husband for Parents. She has been an incredible encouragement to me as well as other women in the community. Please welcome her for our first Titus 2 for Today’s Woman series post!
Question: Why is it so important for Christian women to be submissive wives…even if their husband isn’t saved, (a believer who has trusted in Jesus Christ)?
This is a very hot topic because submission has many times been improperly defined and incorrectly applied. It really needs much more than a short answer, but I will try to keep it simple and to the point.
We all submit. The question is, to whom or to what. We submit to many authorities, such as, police, judges, bosses, presidents and boards of clubs and organizations, pastors and deacons. We also submit to laws, rules of banking, bylaws of clubs, and on and on.
Submission does not mean I am a doormat for my husband to trample on with no opinion of my own. God gave us brains and expects us to use them. We are to speak the truth in love and kindness. When we have done that, we are to submit to our husband’s decision. Be sure it is truth you are speaking and not just manipulating to get your own way.
The first and most important reason to submit to our own husbands is because God commands it. “Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.” Ephesians 5:22,24 NASB
The Greek word for “be subject to” is hupotasso.It is a military term which means to be ranked under in military order. It doesn’t mean inferior.
Another reason, and command, is found in I Peter 3:1,2 “In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior.” NASB
In the above verse, “disobedient to the word,” means they are not Christians. How important is that? That an unbelieving husband may become a believer because of his wife’s loving, respectful, submissive behavior?
Another reason, just as important, for wives’ submission is found in Titus2:3-5 “…being subject to her own husband that the word of God may not be dishonored.” NASB
I do not want my behavior to dishonor the word of God!
Dear Ladies, remember, your submission is not dependant on your husband’s behavior. Nor are you responsible, nor will you be held accountable to God for his behavior. But God WILL hold YOU responsible and accountable for YOUR obedience or disobedience to His commands. The only justifiable reason to not submit to your husband would be in the case of him asking you to sin. But, again, be sure it IS sin and not just you wanting your own way.
There has been so much good Biblical information written on this topic that it would take much more time and space to flesh out than I have here. So I would like to suggest you do your own investigation of the subject. Start by reading these verses as well as the passages in which they are found. Then go to commentaries on the Bible. Study Bibles also will have notes & commentaries on them.
I would also like to recommend two books. There are others as well, but I know these are excellent. The first is “The Excellent Wife” by Martha Peace. There is also a study guide to go with it. Our ladies Sunday School class took about a year to work through it. Another great book is, “Biblical Womanhood in the Home”, edited by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. There is a chapter in it by P. Bunny Wilson entitled, “Liberated by Submission”, which is excellent as well.
I would also like to strongly encourage you to go to reviveourhearts.com where you will find many Biblically sound, doctinally true resources, including ones on submission. Give her 30 day husband encouragement challenge a try! It’s well worth it and can be life-changing.
I heard a wise woman say, “If you agree with his decision, it’s not true submission. True submission comes when we disagree with him and submit lovingly, honestly, and kindly anyway.”
A word of advice to help us remember to be submissive, especially when things aren’t going the way we think they should:
Remember:
God is in control at all times in all ways.
God has promised never to leave us, nor forsake us. Hebrews 13:5
God will never give you more than you, in His strength, can handle. Philippians 4:13
God blesses obedience.
And…I heard John Piper speak and was impacted by something he said. “God is always at work in every situation doing a thousand different things that you cannot see and do not know.” (my paraphrasing) Nancy Leigh DeMoss of reviveourhearts.com has a study on Habakkuk which addresses this very subject, (God working behind the scenes). It is titled, “Worries, Woes, & Worship: Moving From Fear To Faith”.
Dear Ladies, I pray that God richly blesses you as you move forth in obedience to Him by lovingly submitting to your own husbands.
For some time now, my wonderful husband has been suggesting that I find a mentor at church. Someone that has raised a family, been through similar situations as we are going through and someone who could give me good biblical advice. I’ve been praying about it and I’m finding it difficult to pick just one person! There is such a wealth of knowledge in the women at our church that I want to ask them all something! I was inspired by Lindsay’s Titus2Talk posts and decided to do something similar with my own group of ladies. I recommend you check out all of the Titus2Talk posts…they are all wonderful!
Starting in February, we’ll be having “Titus 2 for Today’s Woman”. The first topic with be : How to be a submissive wife. God’s desire for us as wives is to serve Him and our husbands. My dear friend, Debi, has taught several bible studies on this topic and has been such an encouragement to me! I look forward to hearing from her and I know she will be a blessing to you as well!
That they 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
