Staff Writer - Carol Cato
Beth, Married to Jerry for 6 years, been together for 20 years and 4 children. They both work but Jerry is always in and out of a job, working construction. A great father at times, but now with the recession things have been tight and stressful at home. Jerry has not worked for 6 months, he has become a changed person. He is lying to Beth about his whereabouts, and now he has started beating on her. Well not that often, she says, he always apologises, he says he is just frustrated with no work, no money.
Her friend Christine invited Beth to church. She is not too sure about it, but it’s a gospel concert so she will go along. Beth was invited back for the following Sunday. Throughout the week the concert was playing on Beth’s mind. Pastor Marshall gave a wonderful sermon about the love of Jesus. Beth plucked up the courage to attend the following Sunday. Near the end of the service, the Pastor asked everyone to bow their heads and pray, but then the Pastor asked if anyone wanted to give their life to Christ to come to the front. Beth felt something inside her saying “yes” wow did that come from me. Beth heard it again “yes it’s you”, holy smoke, Beth thought she couldn’t go up there “I’m not ready”. Beth heard the Pastor ask again, then without warning she just stood up. Beth walked to the front of the church, at that point the Pastor asked everyone at the front to repeat after him the “sinners prayer” as Beth opened her mouth to say the prayer, she was overcome by pure joy. Beth knew that this was the right thing to do. The new family of Christ were then escorted to the back room, they were told about the church, given a Bible and how they can be baptised
Beth was now standing outside of the Church wondering how she would tell Jerry, what he would think. Beth got home and stood at the front door for a minute just running through her mind what she was going to tell him. Jerry was still in bed watching TV, Beth sat on the bed next to him and explained what she did. Jerry laughed then he said “I guess you will be submitting to me now.” At that point Beth thought “Oh my God what have I done”. Beth didn’t know much about submitting, just that a woman has to submit to her husband. Beth panicked this can’t be right, after all he is not a Christian so she should be ok. At that point Beth heard a voice saying pray for Jerry, just pray. Beth didn’t know how to pray or any scriptures, she ran into the bathroom with her Bible she didn’t want Jerry to see her distress she just cried out to God and asked, ‘What do I do now?
What can Beth do!!
Beth will have to submit to her husband, but she is not to be his doormat or follow him into sin. In a marriage both husband and wife are called to submit. The Bible says;
Eph.22-23 Wives, submit to your husband’s as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church,
However, we must not forget the Bible also says
Eph.25,28-29 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body.
A wife submits to her husband, willingly following her husband’s leadership in Christ. For the husband, it means putting aside his own interests in order to care for his wife.
Beth will have to now concentrate on her own spiritual walk by worshipping, praying and serving the Lord. When Jesus started his ministry there was no honour in his own town so he had to go to another place and preach the gospel. Beth now will have to start walking daily in the Lord by reading of his Word and prayer, bringing God’s Word back to Jerry, Acts 16:31 Clearly says that you and your household will be saved. Begin the walk of faith, not by sight 2 Cor 5:7 also (Heb 11:1)
Next week, How Jerry Submitted……
