Day 8 – My husband’s accountability before God

“𝘏𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥, “𝘞𝘩𝘰 𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘥? 𝘏𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘢𝘵?” 𝘎𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘴 3:11

The world’s view of the head of the household often does not align with what we read in the Bible. God always intended, and will always expect, that men be the head of a household. While household structures may look different across cultures and families, it remains a man’s responsibility. However, the media often pushes women to the forefront and portrays men as the weaker gender. Sometimes, men shy away from their responsibilities and become passive or submissive, which is contrary to God’s design.

Recently, I revisited Genesis 3, and something suddenly made more sense to me than ever before. When Adam and Eve ate from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, God did not speak to Eve first or reprimand her initially. Instead, God spoke to Adam first: 𝘏𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘦? This indicates that, as the head of the household, Adam was held accountable for what happened.

This reveals an important lesson: as wives and helpers, we need to submit to our husbands because they are ultimately accountable to God for the decisions made within the household. Just as Adam was held responsible, so too will our husbands be held accountable by God for their leadership. Conversely, they will also be responsible for decisions 𝘸𝘦 make without consulting them.

This understanding has helped me see that submission isn’t about oppression but about accountability. When I choose to be a submissive wife and helper, I do so out of respect for God’s order and to support my husband’s accountability before God.

Prayer: Lord, help me to honor Your order in my marriage. Teach me to respect my husband’s accountability before You and to support him with humility and love. Amen. ©

Marie Swanepoel