A Word to Wives: Living God’s Way

“Then the LORD God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him’ … so the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man , and he slept; then He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh at that place. And the LORD God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man.” – Genesis 2:18, 21-22

Many many years ago–in fact, thousands of years ago–God created a man and named him Adam. God placed him in a gorgeous garden to live, where all kinds of luscious plants and exotic wildlife existed for Adam to enjoy. Everything was truly good–except for one thing: God declared it wasn’t good for man to be alone. God’s answer to Adam’s aloneness was Eve. He fashioned Eve from Adam’s side to live by his side. Specifically, He fashioned her to be Adam’s helper.

I’ve been married almost 24 years, and unfortunately I’m a slow learner in some areas. Because it just recently really connected with me that my major purpose as a wife is to HELP my husband. Humbly I must admit I don’t always like this purpose. Sometimes it honestly has gotten on my nerves when my husband needed me for little duties like making coffee or packing lunch. I’ve periodically possessed a silent, begrudging attitude like “Why can’t he do that himself?” I actually do better with bigger needs–like planning the budget or praying about his particular requests. Yet I’ve realized whether little or big, helping my husband affords a way to imitate the Lord Jesus Christ. He came to earth to serve–not be served. Christ desires us to have servant’s hearts as well.

When sin entered the garden in Genesis 3, God witnessed the human race’s resulting desperate need. Sin separated mankind from Him, so He promised a Savior in Genesis 3:15. Eventually He sent His beloved Son to earth to die and rise again. Though He could have turned His back, God reached out to HELP us. Jesus willingly made a way for us to return into relationship with God. Hallelujah!

God is so kind and gracious to work within us. Despite my many failures as helper to my sweet husband, God has “clicked on the light bulb” so to speak. He’s enabled me to realize this truth in a new way, and He’s changing my attitude. Truly this isn’t the most popular or valued purpose these days. Our culture lacks support for the wife seeking to help her husband. But, let’s remember, it pleases God. It’s His design. Sincerely helping my husband’s entire person–spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional–blesses him and glorifies God.

As wives, we’re always much better off when we live God’s way.

“An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, And he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil All the days of her life.” – Proverbs 31:10-12