Biblical Responsibilities of the Wife

Wife In Love With Her Husband

I once counseled a couple who were having marital problems. During one of the early counseling sessions, the wife shared that they had a 50-50 marriage. “It was only fair,” she said, “that he does something and I then do something.” Apparently, early in their marriage they negotiated who was going to do what. He would do this, and she would do that.

For example, she might agree to wash the dishes and he would do the cooking. There are some families where the men do the cooking. They are actually the better cook! Or she might have vacuumed the floors and he would clean the toilets. Or maybe she would dust the house and he would empty the trash. Or she would pay the bills and he would shop for the groceries. The issue that they were struggling with, was not the division of labor. There was something wrong in their marriage and something was missing. She could not understand why a 50-50 marriage would have a problem.

The problem was that their marriage was not a biblical marriage. They did not have a biblical concept of what marriage should be. God is the designer of marriage. He knows how it works best. What happens all too often is that we want to improve on God’s model. This couple decided to have a 50-50 marriage. But if they had read the Scriptures, they would have found that God did not design marriage to be a 50-50.

A 50-50 marriage is a fraud. It eventually leads to war. If you have agreed to a 50-50 deal and somehow it goes wrong, the result will be conflict. “Oh, you did not do your job, so I am not going to do my job! Oh, we need to renegotiate who does what.” Their marriage was fraught with all kinds of problems.

Real marriage, God’s design, is a 100-100 marriage. The wife gives 100 percent, and the husband gives 100 percent. In reality, that defines love—giving yourself 100 percent to your spouse. God has revealed in the Scriptures what His design for marriage really needs to be.

We are going to discuss seven key responsibilities of a wife in marriage. I will quickly discuss five of those responsibilities, though not necessarily in the order of priority. Then we will discuss the top two responsibilities—the number two responsibility first, followed by the most important responsibility.

An Excellent Wife.

Proverbs 31 is a great proverb. The chapter is about the excellent wife. Verse 10 begins by talking about what is referred to as an excellent wife, and says,

An excellent wife, who can find?
For her worth is far above jewels.
Proverbs 31:10 (NASB)

In other words, who can find her? It is a great verse, because it announces it is going to describe an excellent wife. It asks, “who can find her?” The point is that it is hard to find an excellent wife. The second part of the verse states her worth is “far above jewels.” Most of us know that a jewel is expensive. The point here is that an excellent wife is rare.

Dependable and Trustworthy

One of the interesting things about this chapter is that it describes the kind of things an excellent wife does. Verses 1 to 31 give us one important message—an excellent wife is very productive and consequently very busy. Verse 27 says,

She looks well to the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
Proverbs 31:27 (NASB)

This wife does not sit and watch television and eat chocolates all day long. She is a busy lady. I will not read it all, because it would take some time to read the entire chapter, but look at verses 16-18, which say,

She considers a field and buys it;
From her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She girds herself with strength
And makes her arms strong.
She senses that her gain is good;
Her lamp does not go out at night.
She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hands grasp the spindle.
Proverbs 31:16-19 (NASB)

It continues to describe the excellent wife. The message is that this lady is industrious and uses her time well. What will be her reward? Her reward is described in verses 28 and 29:

Her children rise up and bless her;
Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:
“Many daughters have done nobly,
But you excel them all.”
Proverbs 31:28-29 (NASB)

Her reward is that she is praised. She is honored and respected because of all the things she has done. What is an excellent wife? Proverbs 31 says she is one who is devotes her time to helping her family. That is a key point.

The fourth major responsibility is that she is dependable and trustworthy. Verse 12 says,

She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
Proverbs 31:12 (NASB)

I was impressed that it says “all the days of her life.” She does him good and not evil all the days of her life. But some wives might plan to do good and not evil today and tomorrow. Then she will berate him for what he has not done and cause him to suffer for what he has been doing! Such a wife has missed the point that she is supposed to do him good ALL the days of her life. It is to be a pattern of life that she adopts.

Now what does it mean to do him good and not evil? Let me make two suggestions. One is verbal, and the other is by action.

In the first category, she does not make jokes about her husband that are derogatory or belittling. She does not make cutting remarks to others about him, or even directly to him. She shows respect to him when she is in front of the children. I know couples where a wife speaks evil of her husband to the children by making ugly comments about their father. She has become a friend of the children by forming a team inside the family—them against dad. I can imagine there are occasions where it is the children and dad against mom. That is rare, but I am sure it happens. Typically, the pattern is the children and mom against dad. She uses her words to gain control of her husband through the children.

The other category she uses is her actions. The wife does not do him good. She is not faithful when it comes to finances. She is a spendthrift. We always hear the little joke about the wife who takes the credit card, goes to town and indiscriminately spends money. In reality, some wives really do that.

But an excellent wife does him good. She respects him. She is a teammate and a partner who works with him and not in opposition. In summary, she is dependable and trustworthy

An Eager Sexual Partner

Another major responsibility of the wife is found in 1 Corinthians 7:2. That is, she is an eager sexual partner. When I say eager, I have to admit that I was struggling with which word to select. There could be misleading ideas that come to mind when I say eager sexual partner. My initial wording was a willing sexual partner; but then that could sound as if she is reluctant. Since I do not mean to communicate reluctance, I chose the word, eager. The idea is that she is loving and she freely participates in sexual activity.

Look at 1 Corinthians 7:2, which is a key verse related to marriage. Paul writes,

But because of immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband. 1 Corinthians 7:2 (NASB)

In this verse Paul says that because of immoralities, some individuals need to get married. Just because we are talking about marriage here does not mean that if you are single there is something wrong and you need to get married. Later in this chapter, the apostle Paul speaks to the unmarried. He encourages believers to be like himself – single – so that they can give themselves fully and totally to the Lord and to ministry. The message is not that a believer must get married, but that in some cases it is actually God’s will to be single and to enjoy life as a single person. God provides special enablement for a single life. But in verse 2, Paul says that because of immoralities, if a person needs to do so, he should marry. The same is true for men and women.

Verse 3 says:

The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband. 1 Corinthians 7:3 (NASB)

Now I thought verse 3 was very interesting. Did you notice what it says? A wife has a duty to her husband, and the husband has a duty to his wife. Paul has given us a principle and how we respond depends upon our attitude.

Verse 4 says,

The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 1 Corinthians 7:4 (NASB)

Verse 4 is really interesting. Pause and think about what was just said. If you are a wife, who controls your body? The answer is your husband does! If you are a husband, who has authority over your body? Your wife does! That is what the verse says. Within the context of a marriage, each spouse does not have control over their own body. Now look at verse 4 again. In what sense does a wife have authority over her husband’s body, and a husband have authority over his wife’s body? The answer is that 1 Corinthians 7:5 says that a spouse cannot deprive one another of sexual activity. Therefore, it is rather obvious at this point that the apostle is speaking about sexual relations.

Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 1 Corinthians 7:5 (NASB)

Verse 5 says “stop depriving one another.” Over the years, I have taught the Song of Solomon to a small group of adults. On one particular occasion I was making the point that the wife is supposed to be a willing partner. I would prefer to use the word eager because it conveys the opposite of reluctance.

I will never forget how one couple reacted to the fact that couples are not supposed to deny one another sexual relations. I had commented that on some occasions I am aware that one women used sexual relations as a reward. For example, if the husband did certain chores around the house, then she would give a reward of sexual relations. As I was making this point, all of a sudden one husband took his elbow and pushed it against his wife’s ribs! So I knew that sex was used as a reward in that relationship. Therefore, what is the responsibility of a wife in a marriage? The responsibility is that she is not a reluctant partner, but a willing/eager partner in the sexual relationship. The same principle applies to some men because there are men who are not eager sexual partners.

Helps Raise the Children

Another responsibility that wives have in marriage is found in Proverbs 1:8. The passage says it this way:

Hear, my son, your father’s instruction
And do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
Proverbs 1:8 (NASB)

This reveals that both the father and mother are to give instruction to the children, and the children are to hear them both. The mother is to participate as part of the team. The consistent message so far is that husband and wife are to be a team.

They are to be like two horses drawing a wagon. Can you imagine what would happen if one horse decided to sit down or lie down while the other one was trying to pull the wagon? What would happen to the wagon? Where would it go? It would not go very far or be very good for the team.

Keepers at Home

Another major responsibility of a wife is found in Titus 2:3. There is a list of responsibilities for the wife in this chapter, but I am going to focus on one particular responsibility. As I was thinking about this study, I realized that there are so many different responsibilities that a wife ought to be committed to performing. So I am focusing on just a few of them. Titus 2:3-4 says,

Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children. Titus 2:3-4 (NASB)

I have always found that verse interesting. It says that the older women are to teach the younger women to do two things: to love their husbands and to love their children.

I was thinking that it seems strange that younger women need to learn to love their children! Do not all women love their children automatically? The answer is no! Many women do not love their children as they should. Otherwise, God would not have given us this command. Some women give birth, and then reluctantly care of their children. Some women think they love their children, but the truth is they treat their children in very unloving ways. They do the same to their husbands. Their concern for people is often self-centered. They seek approval and friendship.

Verse 5 says that women are . . .

. . . to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored. Titus 2:5 (NASB)

I want you to notice the phrase “workers at home.” That is a key responsibility for a wife. That is a concept that I want you to pull out of this passage. It does not mean that a wife is to be exclusively at home. In fact, if you think about the Proverbs 31 wife, she was very busy. How does a wife buy a field if she is at home all the time? That is not possible! The point is that a woman’s primary responsibility is taking care of the home. That is her primary responsibility.

Those are a wife’s five major responsibilities that I wanted to cover. They have not been presented in any priority order.

The Curse Damages Marriage

Now what are the two most important responsibilities of a wife? I will start with what I consider to be the number two responsibility. I want to begin by reminding you of our last study which was in Genesis 3.

In that chapter we discovered that God created marriage. He created Eve and she was to be a partner and suitable helper for Adam. Their marriage was fantastic until Eve disobeyed God. She disobeyed God first. She then motivated her husband to sin. As a result, sin entered the world. When Adam sinned, he caused all of his future offspring to be born with a sin nature. Then God visited them in the garden and pronounced a curse on Adam’s marriage and all subsequent marriages.

The curse had two aspects to it. It created warfare. Marriage begins as the union of two combatants or two warriors. Few couples realize that they are two warriors, and that they are going to be at war during the first year. Many couples will tell you the first year is the roughest year.

As time goes by and the marriage stays together, the warriors learn to work together, to live together, to be in harmony, and to love one another. But that is not the way it starts because the wife wants to have control of her husband. Often she will fight with him to get control. Then the husband responds by ruling in an unloving manner. Today we call it the battle of the sexes, and it is a rather common theme in comedies.

I like the series “I Love Lucy.” If you have ever watched an “I Love Lucy” episode, you know that eventually a battle will occur between Lucy and Ricky. Lucy is always trying to outmaneuver Ricky. He is trying to outmaneuver her. If you watch television programs, women are always attempting to insult and demean men, and men are trying to do the same to women. The children learn some of this behavior from watching mom and dad. That is the curse that God pronounced.

In Ephesians 5:21-33, God tells us how to undo the curse. In Ephesians 5:21, we discovered that God’s solution to the curse is rather than a wife trying to gain control of her husband, she is to submit to her husband. Rather than the husband ruling over his wife in an unloving manner, his priority is to love her and to lead her, and to be a godly example.

First Responsibility of a Wife

I have just introduced two serious consequences of the curse. Therefore, I want to now take a closer look at the wife’s responsibility. We will look at what is a major issue in marriage: the responsibility a wife has to be in submission to her husband. It is an issue because it is the opposite of the curse. So I want to read verses 21-22, and explain the meaning of “be subject.” Here are verses 21-22,

. . . and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ. Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. Ephesians 5:21-22 (NASB)

Notice that “be subject” in verse 22 is in italics. That means “be subject” is not in the original language of the verse. The verse should just say “wives, to your own husbands…” “Be subject” has been added to verse 22 by the translators because it is implied from verse 21.

The phrase, “be subject,” is hypotasso in the Greek. It is a compound word comprised of hypo and tasso. Hypo means “under”—that is, the idea of being under something. Tasso means “to appoint,” or “to order,” or “to arrange.” Therefore, when the two words are combined, the meaning is to arrange someone under, order something under, or appoint something under. It is the idea that the wife now voluntarily puts herself under her husband. That is the meaning of the word “submission” or “subject.” That gives us the meaning of the word.

Submission is not a popular concept in any culture. Romans 13:1-5 teaches us that governments exist to suppress evil, and the citizens are to be subject to government. In 1 Peter 2:13-15, we are explicitly told to subject ourselves to our government. The same principle exists in the relationship between employees and employers. If you have a job, you need to submit to the will of your employer or you will not have your job very long. That is a principle successful people understand very well.

Now how are believers supposed to relate to their church leaders or elders? 1 Peter 5:5 says,

You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders. 1 Peter 5:5 (NASB)

The Greek for “subject” in this verse is hypotasso.

You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another . . . 1 Peter 5:5 (NASB)

Notice that hypotasso, subjection, is an act of humility. If a wife is not humble, she will never submit to her husband because submission involves humility. Just yesterday I was listening to someone on the television who made a comment about how humble they were. I laughed because if they were truly humble, they would not have bragged and said, “I am a humble person.” That was not an act of humility. You see, humility and submission go together.

The passage goes on to say,

. . . clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, 1 Peter 5:5b-6 (NASB)

It says “that He may exalt you at the proper time”- not when you want it to happen, but when God decides to do it. Scripture continues:

. . . casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 (NASB)

Do you like the statement, “casting all your care on Him, because He cares for you?” Notice that it is connected with submission to someone else. When we submit to another, we are casting all our anxiety on God the Father and trusting Him for the results. In the process of doing that, you cast or place all your concerns, worries, and anxieties with Him because He cares for you! That becomes very real when someone submits to a government, an employer, to the leadership in a church, or submits to a husband. That is how we submit. Submission is not popular in our culture, but it is what God wants of us.

Now you may wonder why I said that submission is the most important responsibility of a wife to her husband. Notice that the curse in Genesis 3:16 does not say that a wife will be less dependable, less trustworthy, or a less eager sexual partner. It does not say she will not want to raise the children, or be a keeper at home. But the curse does say that the wife will want to control her husband. It became and is the wife’s primary sin problem in marriage to overcome.

Key Aspects of Biblical Submission

We need to explore some biblical concepts about submission—what it is and what it is not—because I think it is badly misunderstood by both husbands and wives.

Wives Are Not Inferior

The first point is that biblical submission doers not mean the wife is inferior. Some men think wives are inferior. They will even point to a Scripture verse and say, “My wife is inferior because she is weaker. She has a problem and that is why she needs to submit.” Luke 2:51 is a fascinating verse about our Lord Jesus Christ. In the verse we see the word hypotasso again.

And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them . . . Luke 2:51 (NASB)

The Greek word for “subjection” is hypotasso.

. . . and His mother treasured all these things in her heart. Luke 2:51 (NASB)

Jesus submitted Himself to His parents. Now, may I ask you an important question? Was Jesus inferior to His human parents? No! Obviously He was not because He was and is God! In the next study, we will talk about how a husband submits to his wife.

Voluntary Submission.

The second concept of biblical submission is that it is a choice. When Jesus submitted, it was His choice. He chose to submit to His earthly parents. That illustrates the sense of hypotasso in Ephesians 5:21. This means we are to submit to one another voluntarily. Watch this—the wife voluntarily chooses to submit.

Now I have a comment for husbands. Nowhere in Scripture are husbands ever told to make their wife submit to them. No one can find that in the Bible. Husbands must never verbally abuse or physically strike their wives. God never allows or commands that. Submission is her choice. Scripture tells her and encourages her to submit. If she does not, then she violates God’s command and God will punish her.

Here is an example. 1 Peter 3:1 is written to wives in general. It is a great illustration from the life of Sarah and Abraham.

In the same way, you wives, be submissive . . .

That is hypotasso.

. . . to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior. Your adornment must not be merely external — braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. 1 Peter 3:1-4 (NASB)

The apostle Peter is writing to believers and appeals to the wives to submit. He does not appeal to the husbands to make them submit. Husbands are never told to demand or force their wives to submit.

Continuous Submission

The next major concept of biblical submission is that it is to be continuous. For example, turn to Ephesians 5:21. Here is the phrase again, “and be subject to … “ The Greek word hypotasso in this verse is a present passive participle. The present passive participle means that something is continuous. So in summary, submission is a choice. Submission is to be continuous. Submission means placing oneself under another person.

Spiritual Submission

The next concept of biblical submission is that it is a spiritual privilege. Remember that Ephesians 5:22 says,

Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. Ephesians 5:22 (NASB)

Did you know that submission is a spiritual issue? Colossians 3:18 tells wives to be subject to husbands because it is “fitting in the Lord.” Titus 2:5 says that wives are to submit “so that the word of God will not be dishonored.” Biblical submission is a spiritual issue between you and the Lord. When a wife submits to her husband, she brings honor to the Word of God as others watch her.

Avoid Micromanagement

The next part of biblical submission is that submission does not mean the wife is to be micromanaged—like a slave. If we took the time to review Proverbs 31:16, we find that the wife, “considers a field,” and she “buys it.” She considers it. She buys it. I find it interesting that the husband does not consider it. The verse does not say she consults with her husband and obtains his approval. He does not micromanage her.

I know some men who would not let their wives consider any purchase unless they were consulted. I know some men who will not even let their wives discipline their children, or have other children into their homes, unless they micromanage every detail of the situation. They keep track of and control everything their wives are doing.

These husbands do not give their wives any freedom, and their wives feel like a slave in their own home. The biblical concept of submission does not mean that husbands micromanage everything that their wives do.

A Willing Attitude

Another aspect of biblical submission is that submission is a willing attitude. We have already made that point. But another point we must not miss is that she performs her responsibilities willingly. For example, in Proverbs 31:13 we read that a wife works with her hands in delight. She works willingly.

Submission Never Violates God’s Law

Biblical submission does not mean that a wife must violate God’s commands. I once was speaking with a lady who was married to an unbeliever. They were “unequally yoked.” The unbeliever said that his wife could not go to church anymore. He did not want her reading the Bible or attending Bible studies. However, on one particular occasion the unbeliever gave his wife permission to go to a Bible study. When she did, she asked, “What is my responsibility in submission? What happens when he tells me to do something that violates God’s biblical principles? What do I do?” She did not know she had freedom to violate his wishes when they countered God’s commands.

In Acts 4:15-17, we read that Peter and John had been preaching, and the Jewish Sanhedrin Council commanded them to no longer preach about Christ. The verses say,

But when they had ordered them to leave the Council, they began to confer with one another, saying, “What shall we do with these men? For the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But so that it will not spread any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no longer to any man in this name.” Acts 4:15-17 (NASB)

That is, in Jesus’ name. Verse 18 continues,

And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:18-20 (NASB)

What was their response? The Sanhedrin Council commanded that Peter and John were not to preach in Jesus’ name. Now remember that citizens are supposed to be in submission to their governing authorities. So, what did Peter and John say? They replied that would not obey them. This gives us a principle.

If a husband commands a wife to do something that is contrary to Scripture, the wife must disobey her husband’s command. Now a quick comment. Some ladies take Scripture out of context when they just do not want to obey their husband. They try to use the Scripture as the excuse for not submitting to their husbands. In such cases, the wife violates the principle of biblical submission because she has violated God’s principles.

Follow the Patterns of Godly Women

Another biblical concept of submission follows the pattern of many godly women. 1 Peter 3:5 says,

For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands . . . 1 Peter 3:5 (NASB)

Peter is telling us to remember that the women of old submitted to their own husbands. The word for “submissive” in this verse is hypotasso again. It is the same word for submission in Ephesians 5:22. Therefore, 1 Peter 3:5 illustrates the principle of submission given to us in Ephesians 5:21. Then verse 6 makes the principle of submission even stronger when it says Sarah called Abraham lord.

. . . just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, 1 Peter 3:6 (NASB)

We are told that Sarah called him lord. That is real evidence of submission.

. . . and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear. 1 Peter 3:6 (NASB)

Now why would Peter make the comment about submitting without any fear? Because if you submit yourself to someone, there can be fear that he or she might take advantage of you. The biblical principle for a wife in the context of marriage is that she is to willingly and continuously submit to her husband without fear, but to trust God for the results. She should follow the example of the godly women of old.

Do Not Sin Against Your Husband

1 Peter 3:1 gives us another biblical principle. It says,

In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, 1 Peter 3:1 (NASB)

The way a wife behaves might be used of the Holy Spirit to convict your husband that he is doing something wrong, and to then correct his behavior. Proverbs 19:13; Proverbs 21:9; and Proverbs 27:15 all tell a wife that she is not to nag her husband. Some wives nag their husbands to get what they want. Nag, nag, nag, remind, and remind!
But a husband knows that it is more than just a reminder. She is pushing him to do what she wants him to do. Proverbs 19:13 describes nagging like “dripping” water. How many of us like being in a house where the water is dripping through the roof down to the floor? When a wife nags, she is not in submission. Secondly, if the husband responds with criticism or treats her in a way that she does not like, she has motivated him to treat her that way. The biblical concept of marriage is that a wife submits both to the Lord and to her husband, and trust the Lord for the results, You are to cast all your cares on Him for He cares for you.

Respect in All Circumstances

The next biblical concept related to submission is that a wife submits regardless of a husband’s actions. Ephesians 5:33 really summarizes this concept well. It says,

Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must . . . Ephesians 5:33 (NASB)

Do you see the word “must”?

. . . see to it that she respects her husband. Ephesians 5:33 (NASB)

The point is that she must respect him. Notice that submission is equated with respect. When a wife is not submissive to her husband, she is showing a lack of respect. That is God’s perspective. We see it as submission; God sees it as respect.

Ask God to Change Your Husband

Finally, let me make this point, submission means that you pray for him when the two of you disagree. Early in my marriage, a number of issues came up. On one occasion, I knew that she wanted me to lead the family in reading the Bible and praying together. I did not want to do it. Do you know what my wife did? She reminded me of her desire. Does that sound familiar? I told her to stop bothering me. So, she went to prayer. Do you know what happened? A funny thing happened, my heart changed, and after a while I wanted to lead the family in devotions.

As the years have passed, I found that my wife prays for me rather than nagging me. Initially, we might have a conversation, and if she found that we do not agree, she would just be quiet. Instead she prayed. She was not totally quiet—she talked to God. My heart frequently changed. Now that is the way godly women submit to a husband. If you do not like the decision that your husband makes, then appeal to God to change his heart if that is what God also desires. Be willing to also ask God to show you if you are wrong and need for your heart to change.

Your Most Important Responsibility

I want to conclude now with what I consider to be your most important responsibility. Proverbs 31:30 gives us a wife’s most important responsibility. That responsibility is that she pays attention to her spiritual walk with the Lord. Since Proverbs 31 is about the excellent wife, verse 31 is extremely important. Proverbs 31:3 says,

Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
Proverbs 31:30 (NASB)

A wife’s most important priority is her spiritual relationship with the Lord. That is her priority. When your relationship with the Lord Jesus is out of sync, you can expect trouble in your marriage. It will eventually happen because you are not in tune with God, and you do not have the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to work in your life to respond to your husband as you should.

Let us pray.