Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 25, 1995)
H usband A s H ead of the W ife By M att W illiam */VP Promise University y son was once asked in the pres couple of the observations from my study. ence of both my wife and In 1 Corinthians 11:3, God’s message myself: "Who is the head of your through the Apostle Paul is very clear to the home?’’ My son. only six at the time, men really of the home: "Now, I wan, you to real had to think about that question. He looked ize that the head of every man is Christ, and at his mother, then at me. He looked again the head of the woman is man and the head at his mother—and back at me. I was feel of Christ is God.” Pretty straight forward ing pretty embarrassed at this point and stuff, huh? wanted to answer for him: "ME of course!” Let’s change the firs, par, of the first But I knew I had to hear his answer to see line into a question: “Now I want you to how I was doing in my leadership role. He ask yourself is Christ the head of your answered, “My daddy...and my mommy life?" Our ultimate goal cannot be to be the sometimes too!” How honest can you get? best husband, father, leader, employee or Did that mean 1 was generally louder than good steward. Our goal must be to be all my wife when barking out commands and that Christ would want us to be. Because if orders and he perceived those actions as that’s our goal, then we will be operating being in charge? Did his six-year-old mind under His direction, instruction and guid believe that my leadership skills were better ance and fulfilling each of those roles to than his mommy’s because I was physical His glory. ly bigger'.’ Or, did he really pick up on that If you will allow me to paraphrase the fact that his dad and mom both wanted to verse this way: “If Chris, is in charge of provide a home atmosphere that would nur your life, the way God controls things ture and protect him? I really don’t know through His Son, then you will be a tremen what his answer meant. However, it made dous leader, lover, protector, guide and me stop and think. What does it really mean friend to your wife.” to be the "head" of the home? Here are a M J ohn C. M oore journey of having Christ as the true "head" of our life so that we’ll be the right "head” for our wife? Well, assuming we've already accepted Him into our hear, as our Savior; the next step is to get into His Word, the Bible! We begin by accepting His Word as the ultimate guide of our heart, mind, body and soul. I want to be very practical in showing how I use God’s Word to instruct me in my leadership role. I’ll just pick one word relat ing to my relationship with my wife, LOVE. Let’s go to the Bible and look a, a one/verse example about a husband’s love for his wife. Eph 5:33 says; “...each one of you also must love his wife as he loves him self and the wife must respect her hus- band.”(NIV) The next step is simple. Ask yourself the verse in question form. Do I love my wife as I love myself? If not, pray that God will soften your selfish hear, to show your wife the same concern you have for yourself. Is it easy? NO! Is it worth it? YES! Look at the reward in the second part Continued on page 23 A law Firm emphasizing representation for Chirstians. Committed to mediation A ssociates P.C. and reconciliation. L icensed I n O regon & W ashington Free Initial Consultation Family Law Auto Accidents Personal Injury & Wrongful Death Civil Litigation Estates, Wills, Probate Criminal Defense Workers’ Compensation Employment Law 620-8431 P ortland Five Centerpotnte Drive, Suite 1 OC Lake Oswego, O R 97035 (1-5 and Hwy 217) To,| Fr## Outsjde port|and: 1 (800) LAW-16"l 6 WASHINGTON 400 E- Evergreen Blvd. Vancouver, WA 98660 (1-5 and Mill Plain) C h r is t ia n -y7'’yr'.' U n it y tase