BIBLICAL  ROLES OF MEN AND WOMEN
by Deborah Murphy

THE BELIEVING WIFE 1. Sex - Sexual Intimacy / One Flesh Relationship - Cor 7:2-5; Eph 5:31; Gen 2:24-25 Without sex, a couple co-exist as room-mates, not lovers. Leave her father and her mother Sexually please her husband - 1 Cor 7:33 Meditate sexually on her husband - SoS 5:10-16; SoS 7:10 Desire him, respond sexually to him without embarrassment 2 Submission - submit to his authority and leadership as her covering, with heartfelt obedience In everything - not only in what she chooses - Eph 5:24 As to the Lord - Eph 5:21; Col 3:18 Rebellion towards your husband is equal to rebellion against God who gave him the responsiblity to be your covering Demonstrate your love through obedience from her heart Remain under his "covering of authority" by submitting to him Accept and respond to his evaluations and his correction Be responsible towards her husband Not dominate, manipulate, control, boss or scold him, nag, argue... against his delegated God given authority 3. Reverence - give respect and honor to her husband - Eph 5:33 Do him good and not evil all the days of her life - Pro 31:11-12 Honor him by accepting his leadership Use words that honor him, not insult or depreciate him Listen attentively to him, and remember what he said. It is important because he said it. Make his priorites her own priorities Not speak negatively about him to family members, friends or people at church Ask for and value his opinions 4. Godly behavior - chaste and respectful speech - 1 Pt 3:1-6 Use words that are helpful, and without reproach, along with good behavior - Tit 2:3-5 Always rejoice in the Lord, and in the husband that he gave her Not be fearful of anything nor anyone - (this is mentioned in the bible over 365 times) Think on things which are good, true, holy... - Phil 4: 8 Not gossip, not complain Avoid sinning 5. Support - a helpmeet - Gen 2:18 Helpmeet is a technical word used in the construction of buildings. The substance which is added around a column to strenghen it so it can support additional weight/stress. Strengthen him by praising and thanking him for what he does for her Encourage him through her actions and her words Uphold him in ways that show her confidence in him Raise her husband's self-esteem by delighting to spend time with him Surround him with her haseed love - with all her being: body, emotions, mind, spirit Fulfill well her other own responsiblities in the home (children, kitchen, housework...) THE BELIEVING HUSBAND 1. Sex - Nuture their sexual relationship / Their Oneness - 1 Cor 7:2-5; Eph 5:31; Gen 2:24 Leave his father and mother Enjoy and Rejoice with his wife's body - Pr 5:15-19 Please his wife - 1 Cor 7:33 Console (emotionally comfort ) his wife by lovemaking.- 2 Sam 12:24 Maintain the frecuency and passion within their sexual relationship Protect them both from sexual tempatations Faithfulness / fidelity to her in both his thoughts and his actions Value and cherish sexual intimacy with his wife Priorities - God is #!, Wife is #2, then come children, ministry, secular work... 2. Headship / Covering / Leadership / Authority delegated by God - Eph 5:23-24 Set aside his own wisdom in order to use God's wisdom Be a responsible husband - passivity is sin Teach his wife to be submitted in her actions, reactions, and choices she makes Take the responsiblity and right to instruct and correct her Provide positive and negative consequences Not tolerate rebellion, manipulation , control... against his authority 3. Haceed Love - Love her with Haceed/gape Love - Eph 5:25-33 Help her grow and mature in her walk with the Lord/teach her His Word Not be bitter towards her, forgive her - Col 3:19 Be best friends and lovers Motivate her to become more godly Have daily chats with her about issues before they can become large problems. Deal with these things - don't passively ignore them Encourage her, praise her 4. Honor - Give honor to her, ask God for wisdom to understand her, pray with her- 1 Pet 3:7 Respect her as a gift and a treasure from God Not look sexually at other women Use good words towards her in agreement with the Bible Ask for her opinions, ideas and thoughts 5. Provide for her and your children (financially, emotionally, spiritually) Be the priest within your home - 1 Tim 5:8 Be responsible for her and the children Know that what she wants is not always what she needs Allow her to talk with you, and listen attentively to her. She needs to share her feelings with you - not bottle them up. Provide whatever is needed in order to attend church services and activities, along with Christian fellowship with other believers Iniciate prayer and Bible study in his home Protection