SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3
1 Corinthians 11:3
Ephesians 5:22-33

“… the head of every man is Christ …
the head of the woman is the man ...”

HEADSHIP IN THE CHURCH (I)

Since there is a functional hierarchy in the Godhead, it comes as no surprise that God has also determined that there should be distinction in the roles of men and women. “… the head of the woman is the man …” (1 Cor 11:3). Man is to be the leader, and the woman is to submit to the leadership of the man.

This functional hierarchy is also found in the home. Ephesians 5:23 teaches that “the husband is the head of the wife.” Thus, husbands must love their wives, “even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it” (Eph 5:25). They must love their wives as their own bodies, nourishing and cherishing her by providing for her spiritual and physical needs. On the other hand, wives are to submit to their own husbands as unto the Lord (Eph 5:22). Thus, when it comes to the marriage vow, the bride pledges not only to love and cherish her husband, but to obey him. Sadly, the word “obey” is taken out of the vows made by many brides today! Similarly, when it comes to the church, the man is the head of the woman. This means that he is responsible for taking leadership in the matters of the church. For this reason, one of the qualifications for elders in the church is that he must be a man who is faithful to his wife and rules his house well (1 Tim 3:2, 4). It is man who must take charge in setting the spiritual direction of the church.

The problem today is two-fold. First, women are not accepting the role that God has ordained for them, and thus they are most eager to usurp the authority which God has vested on man. By doing so, they are in reality going against God’s authority. At the same time, men are often derelict in fulfilling the leadership responsibilities which God has laid upon them. It is little wonder that there is chaos in churches and families today, just like it was in the church at Corinth.

THOUGHT: Men must be responsible in their roles as heads.
PRAYER: Father, help me to accept Thy lot for me in life.