Leaving a biblical legacy for your kids - part 3

When Ruth acknowledged the LORD as God, and consciously made the commitment found in Ruth 1:16-17, she understood that she was not only choosing to bind herself to her family but to the larger community as well. This is not a common thought in this day and age. Instead, women are encouraged to seek after self-actualization, to be independent, to be self-sufficient. To not be these things is to be seen as useless. However, when looking at the church body, God's design of the woman as the helper is essential. Therefore, it is essential that we encourage our daughters to see the place as the very place where they should be sharing their gifts with God's people. It is through this sharing of our gifts with the body that we are able to build up one another (Ephesians 4:12-13).

For many women today, serving the church body is seen as senseless. However, it is through this serving of others that the women of the church are able to experience the very essence of community and compassion as Christ intended it to be. For when redeemed women come together this way, they are able to pass on the legacy of biblical womanhood amongst redeemed men who value the very design and calling of the women in their community. Contrary to popular belief, it is this very male "headship" that provides the authority and structure for women to be able to fulfill their design.

Wait... What.. Did she really just say that...

Yes! It is the elders (male leaders) in the church that a biblical woman seeks to submit herself to. This is a voluntary placing of herself in submission to them, and thereby making herself available fr the blessings, benefits, and protection that the church leadership provides. It is also this same understanding of submission to the leadership of the church that prepares young women for the marital relationship in which we are called to submit to our husbands and the blessings, benefits, and protection that he provides for us as well.

For the biblical woman, this idea of male headship is not one that is threatening to her. Rather, it is seen as an opportunity to value the distinctiveness of male and female as a part of God's design and order. This idea of submission has nothing to do with equality or with status in the community. It has everything to do with God's ordained order for achieving oneness in marriage and amongst the body of believers. Furthermore, submission actually frees a woman to be able to fulfill her life-giving mission.

For the biblical wife, this then means that she values her husband as he leads her. She does not want a spouse who coddles her, but pushes her to be strong and to mature. Through this, there is a sense of security in their relationship that can only be found in acknowledging this divine order.