1 Peter 3:1 (NKJV) Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives.
Submission in Hebrew means yielding and assuming a lower position. It has to do with ranking. God is the supreme authority over all authorities that He has established, and He has ordained a structure of authority for the family, company, church, and country. We are instructed to submit to this authority.
The husband is the spiritual head of the household, and therefore, the wife must submit to his leadership and allow him to take his rightful place. This will give the children a clear example of how a Christian family should function. For the couple to function effectively, the roles, responsibilities, and expectations must be clearly defined and adhered to.
Some couples work together because they are business owners. This can create a very complex relationship unless they clearly define their roles both at home and at work. There are women with strong personalities. If the working relationship within the company is not appropriately handled, it will spill over into the family environment, which will be unhealthy for the couple. In this situation, mutual submission is needed when the couple is mature enough to recognise and agree upon who is gifted with the business acumen to manage and develop the business.
It takes humility, acceptance, and acknowledgment to recognise who possesses the gift and vision to establish the company while balancing the family’s needs. The wife can help by being secure in her role as a believer in Christ, supporting her husband without needing to prove her worth.
If there is no agreement and the husband is an unbeliever, it is wise for the wife to avoid being argumentative and instead submit to the husband for the sake of unity and peace at home and at work. The strength of the relationship between the husband and wife will determine their ability to share ideas and challenge each other’s thoughts without descending into an intense quarrel that could strain their relationship.
The couple can support each other by praying that they follow God’s will and have the wisdom to strategise and make the right decisions for the company’s good. Doing so will create harmony at work and at home.
God desires us to grow in godliness. By submitting to the Lordship of Christ, and to those He placed above us, including our husbands or superiors at work, and yielding to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we will grow in godliness by allowing our characters to be moulded.
Sermon Series: Hopefully Contented
追求和睦与敬虔
彼得前书 3:1 你们作妻子的，要顺服自己的丈夫。这样，若有不信从道理的丈夫，他们虽然不听道，也可以因妻子的品行被感化过来
在希伯来语中，顺服意味着屈服和处于较低的地位。顺服关乎等级。上帝是最高权威，超乎祂所设立的所有权柄的最高权威，祂为家庭、公司、教会和国家制定了权柄构架。我们被吩咐服从这权威。
丈夫是一家人属灵的头。因此，妻子必须服从他的领导，让他占据应有的位置。这让孩子们清楚地看到一个基督徒家庭应该如何运作。为了使这对夫妇有效地发挥功能，必须明确界定并遵守彼此的角色、责任和期望。
有些夫妻一起工作因为他们开的是夫妻老婆店。除非他们明确界定自己在家庭和工作中的角色，否则这可能会产生非常复杂的关系。有些女性个性强势。如果公司内部的工作关系处理不当，就会蔓延到家庭环境中，这对于夫妇来说是不健康的。在这种情况下需要这对夫妇也足够成熟，能够彼此顺服，认识并同意谁有商业头脑来管理和发展业务。
要认出谁拥有建立公司的天赋和远见，同时平衡家庭的需求，这需要谦卑、接纳和认可。妻子可以以基督的信徒而来的对于职分的笃定来帮助丈夫，支持丈夫而无需证明自己的价值。
如果没有共识，而丈夫又是个非信徒，妻子最好明智地避免争论，而是为了家庭和工作中的团结与和睦而服从丈夫。夫妻关系的强度将决定他们分享意见和挑战彼此想法的能力，而不会陷入可能使他们关系紧张的激烈争吵。
夫妻间的相互扶持可以透过祷告跟随上帝的旨意，明智地为了公司的益处而谋划并作出正确的决定。这样做将在工作和家庭中创造和谐。
上帝希望我们越发敬虔。通过顺服基督的主权，以及顺服祂放在我们之上的人，包括我们的丈夫或工作中的上级，并屈服于圣灵在我们生命中的工作，我们将通过性格的重塑而越发敬虔。藉着允许自己的品行被模塑，我们将会日益敬虔。
讲章系列：希望知足
Image Source：pixabay.com