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TEXT: I Timothy 2:10b
SUBJECT: The Godly Woman: What is She?
The theme of this week's meeting is "The Godly Woman". But it is positively not a women's retreat! The sermons were prepared with a general audience in mind. Men and children may contribute--or detract--from the sanctification of their wives, daughters, and female friends. We're all in this together.
To speak of the "godly woman" assumes a crisp understanding of two words: "woman" and "godly".
1.What is a woman? According to the Bible, a woman is the image-bearer of God. "So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female, He created them". This means: (a) she does not derive her identity from her husband (if she did, marriage would be eternal, as Mormonism claims); and (b) her destiny is not to serve him (if it were, the Hindus are right: torch the widow so that she can wait on her husband in the afterlife).
To be the image of God means that she is made "in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness". She finds happiness, therefore, by knowing God, obeying His Law, and devoting herself to His glory. St. Augustine's prayer fits her as well as any man: "Lord, Thou hast made us for Thyself and our souls are restless till they find their rest in Thee".
The woman has been assigned a task in life. It is to serve God by submitting to and helping the male leadership Providence has given her. About this role, we ought to say:
a.Submitting to a father, a husband, or other male leadership is an act of worship. It is a triangular relationship--a wife obeys her husband because she fears God.
b.Submission and helping are always linked. In other words, subjecting herself to the husband does not produce wifely paralysis.
c.Submission extends only to God-appointed leadership. Some men are fuzzy-thinkers, here. They scorn a woman with an opinion of her own--especially if it's forcefully argued. They seem to think that the Bible says "Wives be in subjection to all husbands!" In fact, it reads, "to your own husbands". If my wife should disagree with some man here, I would expect her to be kind and courteous--but not submissive!
And so, "what is a woman?" She is the Image of God who serves her Maker in submission to, and for the help of, the male leadership He has provided.
2.This brings us to the second question: What is godliness? The English word comes from a couple in Greek, which mean roughly the same thing, something like this: "God fearing, devout, pious" and so on. But these are only synonyms, not descriptions, no less formal definitions.
How, then, does the Bible describe godliness? I can only say, "in sundry times and in diverse manners". A sampling, though, will give us the idea:
a.Genesis 6:9
b.Psalm 1
c.Micah 6:8
d.Galatians 5:22-23
e.James 1:27
f.Matthew 22:37.
But these examples, though useful, are still indistinct. What, precisely, is "godliness"? It seems to me that it can be formally defined as: obedience to the revealed will of God.
This, of course, opens us to the charge of legalism. "Do the loving thing" or "What would Jesus do?" seem much more attractive than "obey the Law". And so they would be if the Law of God only touched external things! But it does not. It reaches the whole man--and not just his behavior. It commands tithing to be sure. But it also commands doing it "not grudgingly or of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver". Or, it urges prayer. But not drudgery in the closet, but "delighting yourself in the LORD your God".
And these acts and attitudes are not incompatible. For Christ was both strictly obedient and warmly human.
We have now come full-circle. The godly woman, therefore, is neither of the caricatures we so often see. She is not:
1.The maverick, serving God by leaving her family and disregarding the wishes of her "carnal" husband.
2.A mere appendage to her husband, with no independent relationship or responsibility to God.
3.She is a woman of God, a servant of man...and happy to be both!
Now, in the second place, we must inquire: How does a woman become godly? All I can say to this is: like anyone else. Ephesians 2:8-10. But that's not really the question, is it? How does she "grow in grace"? That's what I mean.
1.The Christian woman becomes godlier by screening out or rebutting wicked advice. This may come from a well-meaning neighbor, a subtle professor, or a harmless t.v. talk show. According to Psalm 1, the happy man does not "walk in the counsel of the ungodly, stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of the scornful". Whatever the nuances are, this verse surely forbids saturating ourselves with godless propaganda. Let me wax offensive, here: Phil Donahue, Orprah Winfrey, and their ilk are worse than pornography. And here's why: they transmit the same moral values without the shame. In other words, if you caught your husband watching a blue movie, he'd be crushed--and maybe "sorrow to repentance". But if he came in on you while you were watching the same moral sewage (albeit cleaned up a bit for t.v.), you wouldn't feel a bit of remorse. This sort of thing has no place in the Christian home or the godly woman's heart, either. "Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good".
2.But godliness is not the same as insulation. We ought to protect ourselves as much as possible from "worldly lusts", but this--by itself--cannot produce holiness. A positive aspect is needed, too. And here, the Bible is plain. We are sanctified by God. But He does not do this directly--but through the means of grace. What are they?
a.Chiefly, the Word of God. John 17:17. But the Scripture is not a "good luck charm" that brings favor by its mere presence. It must be read, pondered, systematized, and obeyed. And this is not your husband's job! He should help, but he cannot meditate for you. Some Christians are of the opinion that the husband serves as a domestic "priest" (as Job or Abraham did). But to assert such a doctrine is to deny the coming of Christ. Of course the Patriarchs acted as priests. But they had no choice. Once Christ came, however, that function passed into His hands, alone! The wife, therefore, should seek her husband's advice and treasure his wisdom. But she cannot depend on him to study the Bible in her place. To do that is to commit idolatry.
1.Mary and Martha were godly women and loving sisters. Martha took care of the house--a bit excessively, it seems. Mary sat at the feet of Jesus and soaked up His every word. Both were doing good things. But it was Mary who was singled out for praise: "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken from her". I suspect that many Christian men would join Martha in the criticism of her sister. But if you do, you're on the "other side" from Jesus Christ".
b.Prayer. Women are not permitted to pray aloud in church. But they are commanded to pray at home. "Pray without ceasing" was not written to a fraternity, was it? Their days at home are uniquely open to prayer. Their work is hard and long, but not uninterrupted. There are many breaks each day, which might be filled with sweet and short prayers. These bring them closer to God and provide insight and guidance for daily living. A.W. Pink wrote: "A prayerless Christian is a contradiction in terms". This applies to both sexes. If a woman wants to "have"--let her "ask".
c.Church attendance is also vital to female Christianity. The ladies need to sing and hear the word of God preached, too. But often, they cannot. And this hurts them. But what is worst is that much of their absence from public worship is preventable. When a child is sick, the husband should sometimes stay home. And when the baby acts up in church, the dad would do well to take him out, at least occasionally. This does not come from "sensitivity training" at all, but from Scripture: "Husbands, dwell with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor to the wife as to the weaker vessel..." If she is "the weaker vessel", she needs the support of God's people as much as you do. Maybe more.
d.This short list does not touch on all the means of grace. But, if you started here, dear lady, you'd be well on your way to becoming a godlier woman.
This brings me to the results of godliness in a woman. "Godliness is profitable to all things--wrote Paul--"having promise of the life that now is and that which is to come".
1.Godliness pays rich dividends in this life. It makes the Christian woman happy and useful to others. Her "husband sits in the gate of the city....Her "children rise up and call her blessed". Who knows? Maybe she even "wins her husband without a word as he beholds (her) chaste conversation coupled with fear".
2.But the godly await a better reward in the life to come. "She shall be saved in childbearing if she continues in faith, love, and holiness with sobriety".
And so, Christ urges you to "count the cost" of discipleship. It will cost you much--more than you could ever imagine. You must "deny yourself, take up a cross, and follow Him". But will the payoff justify the effort? "If we suffer with Him, we shall also reign with Him". Is a happy life and afterlife enough? "Think on these things".
Finally, we must ask: how can we help our female friends to become godlier?
Husbands, you can provide some spiritual leadership at home. It is hard enough for your wife to be a godly woman. By your abdication, you force her into roles for which she was not designed: head of the house, father, breadwinner, disciplinarian, spiritual leader, etc. It's no wonder she struggles so badly. Who wouldn't with ten full-time jobs?
Children, you can provide help and encouragement. Help, in practical ways. And encouragement? By obeying, by keeping a good attitude, and by growing up wise and holy.
Older women, you must help your younger sisters. There is no option here: "Older women, teach the younger women to be sober, to love their husbands, to be chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, lest the word of God be blasphemed".
Other men, you can help too. Including single men. What should you do? You should pray for your sisters-in-Christ (including the married ones). You should care for them in a discreet way. You should befriend them. In short, you must "bear their burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ".
And so, dear ladies, I must ask: "Are you a godly woman?" Or, to put it a better way, "Are you becoming godlier?" You have no choice. Without "holiness, no man (or woman) shall see the Lord".
1.If you have no godliness, then seek its source: Jesus Christ crucified for sinner.
2.If you want more holiness, then seek His guidance in Holy Scripture.
3.And, if you have some holiness, but are bewailing your deficiencies, then "look up, your redemption draws near". "He shall take that mortal body and fashion it according to His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able to subdue all things to Himself".
"Surely, I come quickly".
"Even so, come Lord Jesus".
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