A few weeks ago, I wrote about the role of a Christian man according to the scriptures. This week, let us explore the significance of a Christian woman. In order for us to understand the role of a Christian woman, we must know her origin.
“…but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” [Genesis 2:20-24 KJV]
Eve was the first woman mentioned in the bible. She was the first woman God created to live on this earth. Her responsibility was to care for her family, nurture her children, and maintain the household.
Many of us are familiar with Proverbs 31 which describes a virtuous woman [Proverbs 31: 10-31 KJV]. A woman is wise, strong, trustworthy, loving, a hard-worker, beautiful, kind, and supports her husband in his endeavors. The list of qualities goes on and on, but sadly most women in today’s society do not exhibit half of these characteristics.
Most women have lost their self-respect. They do not know their self-worth, looking for validation everywhere but up above. As God’s children, we are invaluable. In John 3:16, God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son…to die for us. What a way to express one’s love for another!
There are many Christians who have misinterpreted Ephesians 5:22-33, which asks wives to submit themselves unto their husbands. Many of us read the first line and forget about the rest of the text which mirrors our earthly marital relationship to Christ’s relationship with the Church. In verses 23-25, it says “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;” Submission is not a sign of weakness but respect and love for one another. Woman came from man so man was charged with the responsibility to lead as Christ did. Remember Christ never made His children feel worthless. He did not flaunt His authority and only sought only good for us. In a relationship, both parties must be willing to set aside their needs for the overall benefit of their partner and relationship. Love is selfless not selfish.
Throughout the bible, we are given examples of women–strong yet humble. Ruth, Esther, and Jesus’ mother Mary who stood out from the rest and willingly submitted to God. These women cared for themselves, their family, their nation, but mostly importantly their God. They were called to fulfill a greater purpose. Their lives are lessons for our own lives.
Today, women are portrayed as weak or inferior–the damsel in distress. They are not considered equals to their male counterparts, especially in the workforce. Women have had to fight for equality and respect, from their right to vote to their right to equal pay. Nowadays, most women have deemed themselves independent for a variety of reasons. They have alienated themselves from men altogether. This act was never in God’s plan for our lives. He established a family unit involving one man and one women, then children. He never intended for single-parent households. He never intended for any of His children to be mistreated, violated, disrespected, or worse.
To my fellow sisters, I hope that you will closely study the lives of the women who have lived before us. I challenge you to be a role model. Premarital sex and unplanned pregnancies continue to be rampant issues faced within our churches. These young ladies are in need of someone to encourage and uplift them. We cannot forget the men as well. It is so easy for us to judge others when we’re not in their situation. What if were you who came to church one day, pregnant and unmarried, how would you want to be treated?
I pray that you will be like the virtuous woman described in the book of Proverbs. Let us be obedient to God and submit ourselves to His will, wherever it may lead. You never know what blessings He has in store for you.
Author: Kristia M. Beaubrun
Hebron Highlights 