Want A Better Husband? Be A Better Wife!

Want a Better Husband? Be a Better Wife!

1 Peter 3:1-7

Sermon by Rick Crandall - June 10, 2007

*Brian Mavis asks couples, “Do you remember the first time you knew there was chemistry? You thought ‘Oooo - I like this person. . .’

*Do you remember when you knew you were in love? When you knew you wanted to spend the rest of your life with that person? You were a team, a good one. You made a commitment to become one forever.

*But then do you remember when that person hurt you deeply? You made up and it was a good make up . . . But then more disappointments, more hurts, expectations not being met.

*You are not alone. Every marriage sees conflict. Every marriage is a journey of highs and lows.” (1)

*Being married can be hard for lots of reasons. For one thing, we all have our own set of likes and dislikes. As E.J. Graff said, “Marriage is when you agree to spend the rest of your life sleeping in a room that’s too hot. . . right beside someone sleeping in a room that’s too cold. (2)

*Sometimes marriage is hard because sometimes we are stubborn and selfish. On top of that, the devil hates marriage and constantly tries to rip us apart. And life holds challenges that can hit us like a tidal wave.

*Marriage can be hard, but it can also be heavenly. We know this because the whole idea of marriage came from heaven. And we can have a heavenly marriage, if we follow God’s plan.

*Ladies, do you want a better husband? Be a better wife. God’s Word shows you how.

1. First of all, support him with Biblical submission. Support your husband with Biblical submission. As vs. 1 says, “Likewise you wives, be submissive to your own husbands. . .”

*This does not mean that a wife should submit herself to be abused by her husband, or to do anything wrong for her husband. I appreciate what Pastor Tony Miano said about abuse:

-“One of the most dangerous and volatile calls I ever answered as a deputy sheriff involved domestic disputes. Very rarely would we go to such a call where it was the first incident of its kind in the home.

By the time we were called to the house, the abuse had been going on for months, maybe even years. I met more than one Christian woman who found herself in such desperate circumstances. I’ve also been told by some of these women that the counsel they received was that they should stay in the house and try to work things out. People in the church told them that unless there was infidelity in the marriage, they couldn’t leave.

*When I heard this, I would give the woman my own piece of advice. First, I told them to get out of the house. Then I told them to find another church.”

*And Tony says: “If you are here today and living in a situation where you are being abused, you must leave immediately and find safe shelter.

-Should you try to reconcile with your husband? Certainly. But do so in such a way, under such conditions, that you will be safe.” (3)

*What is God telling a wife to do when He says, be submissive to your husband? Submit to his leadership. Voluntarily choose to put yourself under his authority.

*This is not a popular message in 21st Century America. One reason why is because women have historically been treated as second-class citizens in our society. If you don’t believe me, just think about when American women got the right to vote. Do you know when it was? The same year that my daddy was born: 1920. That’s surprising isn’t it? (4)

*And how many women have been sexually harassed on the job. Two women in my family certainly have been. We’d be shocked to see a show of hands this morning. Under these circumstances, it’s easy to see why some women are skeptical about this part of God’s Word.

*But you must know that Jesus Christ has done more to help the cause of women than anyone else in the history of the world. And women are generally treated far better in Christian societies than anywhere else in the world. Right now, women are not even allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia. And the Koran specifically allows husbands to beat their wives.

*On the other hand, the Bible tells husbands to treat you as a precious treasure, and to love you just like Jesus loves the church. But God does tell you to submit to your husband. Voluntarily choose to yield to him.

*As Jonathan McLeod points out: “It is not the husband’s job to make his wife submit.” (5) Did you hear that men? It is not your job to make your wife submit.