---

Recently I bought a printer for my computer. When I opened it up I noticed that it came with an instruction manual. Toward the back of the manual was a section designated, “troubleshooting.” If you encountered any problem or had any difficulty with the printer, this section of the manual was designed to help to solve the issue.

I begin to think of various crises that we face in our society and world today. The manufacturer of all things is God. He has a deep desire for us to receive all the benefits of all He has created. Therefore he gave us an instruction manual. If we will follow the instructions we will receive the benefits of an abundant life! Where have we gone wrong in respect to the role of women and wives?

In the book of Genesis, chapter two and verse eighteen, we find, “And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.” A “help meet” means a helper suitable, proper, and or fitting. The full intention of God was to make a counterpart to complete what was lacking in the man. Someone to help him achieve his full potential physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Thus, the two would become as Genesis, 2:24 says, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” The word cleave has the idea of two pieces of metal welded together. They become one unit, inseparable. Therefore they become one flesh united in mind, soul, and body! In this manner the woman fulfills her purpose of being and receives the greatest height of dignity. This goes against modern teaching and the desire of the flesh.

I thank God for allowing me to have such a woman and wife. Imperfect as I am, she has given her all to help me reach my full potential physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Sensing the will of God for her life, she left her “career” to become a common house wife and mother of seven children. Putting her life into her husband and children has brought forth the fulfillment as well as the reality of Proverbs 31:28-31. “Now, her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.”

Unfortunately though, the deceiver has beguiled many women into demanding their rights. They feel that they deserve equality with men. God made two genders, male and female, not to be equal, but distinctly unique in their roles. Each one is to give his all to God, and before God, to fulfill His purpose. Instead of being a help and blessing, many women and wives have become contentious. Never learning to be content with what they have, they nag and over spend leaving their husbands frustrated with life. Proverbs 27:15 “A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.” Instead of seeking to please the Lord, the husband concentrates on trying to provide all the wants and desires of his wife. Thus they lose the true value of life that is best expressed in Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. ”

Other women and wives have fallen into the trap of Satan by taking over the leadership. Men by nature are lazy and look for a way out of responsibility! When women force or connive their way to get what they want, they are the losers. 1 Timothy 2:12, “But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.” I Peter 3:1, “Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives.”

The Apostle Paul presented a problem in his day which is very prevalent in ours. I Corinthians 7:3-5, “Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence (duty—conjugal): and likewise also the wife unto the husband. The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. Defraud (to hold back, deprive, cheat) ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency”. Sadly many women use their duty conjugal as a means to get or achieve what they want, then wonder why their husband loses interest in them. Proverbs 31:10-12, “Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life”. The success of our ministry as missionaries in Brazil is due to a wife that learned to perform her God given role with honor and dignity.

Robert Calvin Nichols,
Missionary in Brazil, South America