Wife

I love the fact that Peter uses Sarah as an inspired example of biblical submission. Read her story in Genesis 11-23. She was not a wallflower who waited on Abraham to call the shots. She was an opinionated woman, who devised an ill-conceived family plan (Genesis 16:1-2), mistreated the accomplice (Genesis 16:6), laughed at God (Genesis 18:12), and finally ordered Abraham to get rid of Hagar and Ishmael by sending them off to wander in the desert (Genesis 21:9-10). Sarah destroys the world’s twisted picture of submission!

The believer’s life should be attractive and inviting to those who don’t know Jesus. This also applies to every believer’s marriage relationship. Today’s passage is directed toward wives, and Peter’s words are misunderstood by many. Let’s work to understand how Scripture addresses the role of the wife in her marriage.

In today’s passage, God goes big to explain the vision of marriage. The full vision has too often been shrunk to focus on the happiness and satisfaction of a husband and wife. Certainly, happiness and satisfaction are desired outcomes, but marriage is bigger than you and your happiness. Marriage is about God.

In today’s passage, Jesus puts marriage on the divine level. He looks each husband and wife in the eyes and says, “God has joined you together. Don’t mess it up” (My paraphrase). Marriage is not about a man and woman going through a ceremony, moving into a home with a white picket fence, and having a family.

How can we make our families strong—bulletproof—against the constant attacks from our culture? Well, for starters, strong families always start with strong marriages. So, let’s begin at the beginning.

The marriage covenant must be guarded and kept.

There are always consequences for disobedience. Consequences will show up . . . sooner or later.

Husbands and wives, guard your relationship!