“Always abounding in the work of the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:58).
Married couples have many special ways to enjoy and share their lives together. A wife and her husband may enjoy things together like eating out, exercising, or going on trips. There are the mutually shared experiences of starting a family, building a house, raising children, and even growing old together. These varied experiences provide a host of wonderful opportunities to experience life, to learn, to mature, and to make a ton of great memories together. There is, however, the possibility that, if we are not careful, we can still become rather self-centered even while experiencing all of these good blessings from God. There is even the possibility that we can eventually become all about our own happiness, pleasure, fulfillment, and satisfaction.
In life, there are basically two kinds of people. The first group is selfish. Simply put, this is human nature at its worst! This is the “me, myself, and I” crowd, whose life is pretty much centered around the person they assume to be most important in the world—themselves. The other group of people is selfless. Simply put, this is human nature at its best! These are the ones who see their own lives as nothing and see God as everything. He is the most important person in the world, and so everything they do is focused on Him. Often, there is one thing that determines the difference between these two groups of people—and that is service.
In Genesis 2, there is a term that is introduced that presents a very unique view of a woman’s role as a wife. In verse 18, God Himself makes the statement that it was “not good that the man should be alone.” That verse is significant because, up to this point, God had said that every part of creation was either “good” or “very good.” God then said that He would make a “help meet” for Adam. This term is again used in verse 20 when God states, “There was not found an help meet for him.” In the verses that follow (vv. 21–24), God creates a woman and establishes the marriage relationship between the man and the woman.
There are two amazing truths that immediately are learned from this passage. We first learn that the woman was created for the man. God made the man, and then the woman that she might help complete her man and make him all God intended him to be (1 Cor. 11:9, 1 Tim. 2:13). The second truth is found in the literal meaning of the words “help meet.” To be a “help meet” is to be an “aid.” In living reality it means to be a helper. It is worth noting that throughout the Old Testament, the same word is frequently used when referring to one who helps. It is clear that the very first responsibility of a wife is to help and to serve. When you combine these two thoughts together, you understand that a wife is to serve her husband as he serves the Lord. She is to minister with her husband as he ministers for the Lord. In summary, we might say that her focus is her husband and her function is service. Though a wife may be a housekeeper and homemaker, as well as numerous other roles, her first priority is her service to and with her husband.
When a man and a woman enter into a relationship, they also enter into a partnership. They are in an ideal position to be team members in the work of God. For a wife, that means that she establishes the same priority of knowing and doing the will of God, just as her husband has done. It means that she displays the same passion for the work of the Lord that her husband experiences. In her prayers, a wife uplifts her husband before the Lord, addressing his needs, his fears, his weaknesses, and his desires for the ministry that God has called him to do. When a man begins a project in ministry, it means that his wife is there to support, to encourage, and to assist in any way possible. Ultimately, a couple then seeks to fulfill together their purpose, which is to bring glory to the Lord.
Whether you minister in a vocational or voluntary capacity, you have the blessed opportunity to serve the Lord by serving with your husband. The selflessness that ministry develops will enhance your life and your marriage, creating a God-centered lifestyle that is priceless.
Action Points:
- Discuss with your husband several potential areas of service. You may want to write down a project list.
- Begin to pray together and make plans to serve side-by-side in accomplishing these specific ministry goals.
This chapter was written by Patty Palmer, wife of Evangelist Tom Palmer, Spring Mills, PA.
This chapter was taken from The Extraordinary Wife. CLICK HERE to learn more about the book.
