THE ROLE OF THE CHRISTIAN WOMAN IN BUILDING A SUCCESSFUL CHRISTIAN HOME

THE ROLE OF THE CHRISTIAN WOMAN IN BUILDING A SUCCESSFUL CHRISTIAN HOME

By Kola Ajibola

Introduction: God planned and provided that all homes should be successful. From the Bible and experiences of life, it is not an overstatement that not all marriages/homes are successful. Noting this, as a Christian Woman, how can I prevent my own home/marriage from failure? How can I make my marriage/home a successful one? This is our focus.

Objective: For all Christians to strive Towards A Successful Christian Home by 'MAPPING²' out strategies for success.

By the word 'MAPPING²', I mean Maintaining, Achieving, Planning, Purposing, Investing, Nurturing and Guarding and Guiding your marriage.

1. DEFINITION OF TERMS
   
   1. Role, Christian Woman, Success (you must have goal before talking about success – Illus. Heb. 12:2; Joshua 1:8), build and Christian Home.
      
2. THE ROLE OF THE CHRISTIAN WOMAN IN BUILDING A SUCCESSFUL CHRISTIAN HOME
   
   1. AS A CHRISTIAN – I Pet. 3:1-7; Eph. 5:22-24; Col. 3:18
      
   2. AS A WIFE – I Pet.3:7; Gal. 3:22-29;
      
      1. She is prayerful – Hannah as a case study.
         
      2. She is an helpmeet –
         Gen. 2:18; Heb. 13:4.
         
      3. She is involved in procreation – Gen. 1:28; Jer. 29:6.
         
      4. Love and respect her husband – Eph. 5:33.
         
      5. She is subjected to her husband – Col. 3:18, 1 Pet. 3:1
         
      6. She lives in such a way as to deserve respect – I Pet. 3:4; 1 Tim. 2:9-10.
         
      7. She strives for oneness in marriage – 1 Cor. 7:2-7.
         
      8. She is a homemaker – Tit.2:5.
         
      9. She does not put others before her husband.
         
      10. She is not jealous.
          
      11. She does not nag, she is not contentious – Prov. 25:24; 19:13; Illus. Judges 16:16.
          
      12. She doesn't resent her in-laws – Prov. 14:1; 18:22.
          
   3. AS MOTHER
      
      1. She has dream for her child(ren) and home – Hannah – I Sam. 1:11; Bathsheba – Ikgs. 1:17-18; Eunice and Lois – 2 Tim.1:5; Phil. 4:6-7.
         
      2. She is a Christian – [One becomes a Christian by Hearing the gospel of Christ – Rom. 10:17, Believes the gospel – I cor. 11:1-4, Repentance- Acts 17:30-31, Confession of faith in Jesus Christ- Rom. 10:8-10, Baptism by immersion –Mark 16:15-16; 1 Pet. 3:20-21
         and live a holy and un-blemish life - I Pet.1:15. By this Lord will add you to His church – Acts 2:47; I Cor. 12:13].
         
      3. She has proper attitude towards God and Church – Prov. 22:6.
         
      4. She is concerned with physical well-being
         of her child(ren) – Lk.2:52 – Physical, Intellectual, Social, and Spiritual growth.
         
      5. She encourages the growth of her children intellectual capability.
         
      6. She says NO to her children when necessary.
         
      7. She accepts each child as an individual without partiality yet with equal love.
         
      8. She disciplines her children – Tit. 2:3-5; Prov. 1:8; 6:20; 23:24-25; 19:18; 13:29.
         
      9. She always remembers she is also a wife.
         
   4. AS AN IN-LAW –Ruth 1:16-17
      
      1. AS DAUGHTER-IN-LAW
         
         1. Ruth loved her mother-in-law.
            
         2. She sought her mother-in-law's advice.
            
         3. She willingly accepted the counsel of her mother-in-law.
            
         4. She included her mother-in-law in her life – Prov. 17:6.
            
         5. She heeded the influence of her mother-in-law's life.
            
      2. AS MOTHER-IN-LAW
         
         1. Naomi accepted Ruth and Orpah for what they were – Pagan.
            
         2. She loved her daughter in-law.
            
         3. She sought only good for her daughter-in-law.
            
         4. She made certain that her influence was for good. She caused Ruth to accept the only one true God.
            
         5. She gave advice to Ruth but never BOSS her.
            
   5. AS A MOULDER OF THE SOCIETY – Illus. American History after WWII
      
      1. She serves as a mould for the society because she teaches – Tit. 2:3-6, 1 Tim. 2:11-12. Illus. Acts 18:26; Jas. 5:20.
         
      2. Home maker and builder – Prov. 31.
         
      3. Her benevolent acts –Lydia, Phoebe, Euodia, Syntyche, Dorcas, etc.
         
      4. Her hospitality – 1 Pet. 4:9.
         
      5. Her visitation.
         
      6. She is a good counsellor – Gal.6:1.
         

CONCLUSION: Your marriage can be successful if you fully perform your role as prescribed by the originator of marriage.

APPENDAGE:

Pillars That Support a Marriage/Home

Intimate, fulfilling marriages have at least five major pillars. Security helps a marriage to withstand the inevitable storms of life. Meaningful Communication is an inescapable necessity if intimacy is to last. Emotional, Romantic bounding can help to stabilize a home, particularly through difficult times. Meaningful touch is crucial to the formation and preservation of an intimate relationship. All these hinged on the very most important of all – Spiritual intimacy. (Adapted) - Gary Smalley & John Trent.