Learning God's Given Rolls: Part 1 Men vs. Women
Men and women are very different. Created each in God's image they are not to be trifled with or changed. God has created man as the stronger sex on purpose and this is not to demean women. Women have power in Christ just the same as men do but it is rare for women to want the power Christ has given them.
I am going to attempt to do a study on men vs women inside God's created rolls. Over the next few weeks I will touch on men and woman's differences, how they relate to each other inside marriage and how to raise Godly children. All of my research has been through Christ alone and nothing I say will be outside His given plan. I am not a mother yet but I am married, however each article is intended only to give God's commands to us, and I have given every attempt to refrain from adding my own embellishments. Today I am going to talk about Godly men and Godly women.
As a younger woman I made it my aim to find a Godly man, one who will lead me in Christ and help me raise Godly children. To help me find this man I used 1 Timothy 3's description of overseers, since this is like the roll of a father. Men are to be, “above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family how can he take care of God's church?) He must not be conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap” 1 Timothy 3:2b-7 NIV. That is pretty straight forward. A few other characteristics of strong Christian men in the Bible are also important. Paul always encouraged Timothy to be eager to learn and to seek out the truth. I believe this is shown well in Paul's letters to Timothy, and the mere fact that Paul wrote them as learning and corrective tools shows that as well. A sound minded man is a prize to be esteemed. Being of sound mind, well thought out, and having good judgment are all very important in men as they are the leaders in Christ.
In my quest to become a more Godly woman I have learned many things, but the best I can directly quote from the Bible is Proverbs 31: 10-31 NIV, “A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies (priceless). Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. (trustworthiness) She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life (encouraging). She selects wool and flax (selective) and works with eager hands (eager and determined). She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar (variety). She gets up while it is still dark (hard working); she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls (serves everyone). She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard (makes decisions and acts with confidence, and manages her household). She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks (skilled). She sees that her trading is profitable and her lamp does not go out at night (makes a profit and works tirelessly). In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers (knowledgeable about her work). She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy (graceful and cares for others). When it snows, she has no fear for her household (she's prepared for what is to come); for all of them are clothed in scarlet (generous). She makes coverings for her bed; and is clothed in fine linen and purple (takes care of herself). Her husband is respected at the gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land (respected family). She makes linen garments and sells them, (makes profit off her work) and supplies the merchants with sashes. She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come (Doesn’t worry, confident). She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue (teacher, faithful, patient). She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness (proactive). Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her (she get's the praises she has earned). Many women do noble things but you surpass them all. Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.”
This passage is specifically talking about a wife but it also applies to all women. We as women are molded from our youth to be the loving wife and mother of a family. That is our roll created by God and should not be scoffed at or changed. Godly women are graceful, loving, confident, knowledgeable and skilled. A woman does not become that after she says, “I do.” and has a ring on her finger, each attribute is taught and learned over a lifetime. Make it your aim to learn these things before you are married and God will bless you. If you are more like me and didn't learn many of these things till after you were married, or perhaps haven't learned them at all, do not despair. God has a plan in everything and if you follow Him righteously you will be blessed.
If men and women fall into their respective rolls that God has given them the problems and issues each has with the other can mostly be eliminated. Each gender has a roll and it is different, that does not mean one is better than the other. You cannot compare an apple or an orange, both are fruits but both are different, and both are good. That is how God has planned it. Trust in the Lord.
Rachel Wanderer
Colorado Springs, Colorado
must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family how can he take care of God's church?) He must not be conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap” 1 Timothy 3:2b-7 NIV. That is pretty straight forward. A few other characteristics of strong Christian men in the Bible are also important. Paul always encouraged Timothy to be eager to learn and to seek out the truth. I believe this is shown well in Paul's letters to Timothy, and the mere fact that Paul wrote them as learning and corrective tools shows that as well. A sound minded man is a prize to be esteemed. Being of sound mind, well thought out, and having good judgment are all very important in men as they are the leaders in Christ.
In my quest to become a more Godly woman I have learned many things, but the best I can directly quote from the Bible is Proverbs 31: 10-31 NIV, “A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies (priceless). Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. (trustworthiness) She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life (encouraging). She selects wool and flax (selective) and works with eager hands (eager and determined). She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar (variety). She gets up while it is still dark (hard working); she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls (serves everyone). She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard (makes decisions and acts with confidence, and manages her household). She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks (skilled). She sees that her trading is profitable and her lamp does not go out at night (makes a profit and works tirelessly). In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers (knowledgeable about her work). She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy (graceful and cares for others). When it snows, she has no fear for her household (she's prepared for what is to come); for all of them are clothed in scarlet (generous). She makes coverings for her bed; and is clothed in fine linen and purple (takes care of herself). Her husband is respected at the gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land (respected family). She makes linen garments and sells them, (makes profit off her work) and supplies the merchants with sashes. She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come (Doesn’t worry, confident). She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue (teacher, faithful, patient). She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness (proactive). Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her (she get's the praises she has earned). Many women do noble things but you surpass them all. Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.”
This passage is specifically talking about a wife but it also applies to all women. We as women are molded from our youth to be the loving wife and mother of a family. That is our roll created by God and should not be scoffed at or changed. Godly women are graceful, loving, confident, knowledgeable and skilled. A woman does not become that after she says, “I do.” and has a ring on her finger, each attribute is taught and learned over a lifetime. Make it your aim to learn these things before you are married and God will bless you. If you are more like me and didn't learn many of these things till after you were married, or perhaps haven't learned them at all, do not despair. God has a plan in everything and if you follow Him righteously you will be blessed.
If men and women fall into their respective rolls that God has given them the problems and issues each has with the other can mostly be eliminated. Each gender has a roll and it is different, that does not mean one is better than the other. You cannot compare an apple or an orange, both are fruits but both are different, and both are good. That is how God has planned it. Trust in the Lord.