A Godly Wife, part 2

We are in the middle of a three part series on what it means to be "A Godly Wife" from a biblical perspective. This, of course, raises many eyebrows and sours many people as they observe the truth of God's Word and how it confronts our post-modern, egalitarian, feminist culture right between the eyes.

We saw yesterday the first characteristic of a Godly wife. That is, that A Godly Wife must practice submission. Today we will see the second essential requirement of being a Godly wife. A Godly wife must be a suitable helper.

I. A Godly Wife Practices Submission
II. A Godly Wife is a Suitable Helper.

So today, we are looking at the biblical truth of the wife as being a suitable helper for the husband.

Genesis 2:18 18 Then the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him."

The last phrase, "suitable for Him" in the Hebrew literally means, "according to his opposite," or "according to that which is next/beside him."

We that the wife is a helper for the husband as one who is ideally suited to be HIS helpmate, his supporter, encourager, complementer. She is HIS perfect complement. He needs to go nowhere else to find another complementary helpmate. She is not merely a housewife (though this is necessary), but a completer. In other words, the husband is NOT complete without her.

The second nuance that is found under the idea of the Godly wife being the suitable helper is that her husband is her primary ministry. This is a woman who lets people know and isn't ashamed to make it loud and clear that her main and primary ministry obligation is to her husband. She can spend time with people, minister in the church, disciple younger women, be involved in bible studies and athletics, but if any of these ever get in the way of her ministry and service to her husband, this is the wife that is quick to cease from those activities in order to place her husband back in the "primary ministry spot" of her life.

Third, A Godly wife who is a suitable helper is one who finds her greatest joy and contentment in this role of serving and loving her husband. Here is why: Because she realizes that she is complementing him in such a way that he could never do for himself if he were without her.

Fourth, a Godly wife who is a suitable helper is also a contributing member of the lifelong covenental commitment to partnership.

Titus 2:3-5 3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips, nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, 4 that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be dishonored.

These are all elements that are part of being that suitable helper for her husband. So we have seen over these last two sessions that A Godly wife has two essential characteristics:

I. A Godly Wife Practices Submission
II. A Godly Wife is a Suitable Helper