Job Offer: Requirements: You must sing, play the piano, possibly lead the choir, lead the group of children, teach in Sunday school, choreograph the Christmas and Easter theater, have the ability to recite Bible verses upside down, and have highly educated children. . You must keep the pastor (husband) happy, well fed and well dressed. Co-workers are difficult and working hours unpredictable. Salary R $ 0. 00
Of course, this job offer is a joke, but many women felt that many of these expectations are common to the wife of a pastor, chief, or missionary and also to their entire family. Expectation is not always bad or false, but the rigor with which external collection can generate internal collection, leading to widespread dissatisfaction and family stress.
- We can quickly make a mental list of the expectations that the church has of the pastor’s wife.
- Such as: playing the piano.
- Being outgoing.
- Always being in the church in all programs.
- Being involved in various departments (women.
- Children.
- Sunday Bible school.
- EBF.
- Etc.
- ).
- ).
- Always be willing to receive guests at any time of the day or night.
- Have an exemplary family.
- Visit the pastor.
- Is the list long?.
But how many of these expectations are really possible or realistic? What is the role of the pastor’s wife? Is it different from the role of someone who is married to a salesperson or a systems analyst? What if you are not married to a pastor? ? What would your role be? Let’s see what the Bible says about women:
Genesis 2:18? I’ll make you an assistant that’s right for you. ?(Trained, adequate, adequate)
Proverbs 31 speaks extensively of the blessing that a good (virtuous) wife can be to her husband.
Proverbs 31:11?Does your husband’s heart trust him?
Proverbs 31:12? It does you good and doesn’t hurt, every day of your life.
Proverbs 31:23 Is your husband esteemed among the judges?
Proverbs 31:26? Do you speak wisely?
Proverbs 31:27? Are you making sure your house works?
Proverbs 31:30 Are you afraid of the Lord, the best virtue?
Ephesians 5:22?Should women be submissive to their own husbands as the Lord?
Ephesians 5:33 and the wife respects the husband. ?
1 Peter 3: 1? Women, do you also submit to your own husband?
1 Peter 3: 3 – Isn’t the woman’s ornament the outside?4 But to be the inner man of the heart, united in the incorruptible suit of a still, still spirit?
1 Peter 3: 7 ?? the woman as the most fragile part ??
Everything that the Bible considers a woman’s virtues and duties must be fulfilled by all women, including single women. Being married doesn’t make you better or more pious than a single woman, nor does she make you a pastor’s wife. qualifying you in another category as a wife doesn’t make you better or more pious than other wives.
However, it is a fact that we are further sought to obtain counsel, to conduct bible studies, to help children, etc. , and even if we do not have gifts for these messages (music, teaching), we must remember that like the body of Christ, we all have duties in the church, we must support each other, carry the burdens of others, we must cooperate with work physically and financially.
It is true that some pastors have very active families, where the woman touches, the daughter teaches and the son guides youth, this should be praised, but it does not have to be a standard goal, because we must be happy with any church. family that also has very active members. It is certainly a joy for all when the pastor’s family is involved, loves the Kingdom of God, and works to grow up, honors the Lord!Like other active families in the church, they can cooperate to ensure that work is done and that more lives are achieved and built in the same way.
Do you see what Peter says in 1 Peter 4:10? I have served one another, each according to the gift he has received, as good stewards of God’s manifold grace. If we are the stewards (the stewards would be the other word) of God’s multiple grace, it means that what we have is not ours, it is God who gave us to serve others. There are gifts, gifts, talents that have been given to us to help others. How can you serve? How can you best prepare yourself to serve the church, to serve your family, your husband? Think about these answers regardless of your position.
For many women, their husbands’ pastoral ministry is an arid territory, where their husbands spend hours and hours between classes and books, studying Greek (literally) or other subjects whose title alone is too complicated to speak; however, wives can also study theology it is also for women, as Professor John Piper so vehemently says. You don’t need to do the studies they do, but you can read a good book that will help you be better prepared for a moment of advice, for example. it is a good way to serve the Body of Christ, to use the talents and opportunities God has given you.
Think rationally and write, make a list if necessary: What do you like to do ?, In what areas of the church or ministry could you serve ?, What are your skills?Have you used them for God’s glory or been too busy with so many other things under the stack of papers?How could you help your spouse have a more pious life?How can you teach your children (yourself or their children in faith) religious service What can they learn to use in the department now or in the future?
Serving the Kingdom of God is pleasant, uplifting, and gloriously satisfying when we see lives bowed at the feet of Christ, but it is not always easy. Sometimes we make mistakes in thinking that ministry service should be like this scene from Snow White cleaning the house of the 7 dwarfs, happily humming and surrounded by cute animals. The truth is that these moments exist, but not every day. Many times we do not see the seed germinate, do we not even get it? Thank you? after serving for hours, we don’t have a prominent place and are not recognized. But that can never be our goal or discourage us from continuing to serve, because if anyone serves, do it with the strength that God provides, so that God may be glorified in all things, through Jesus Christ, the one who belongs. To glory? (1 Peter 4:11). Our focus in service cannot be on the earthly reward we have, but on the glory of God, as we also read in Psalm 115: 1. Not to us, Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for God’s Love. your mercy and your faithfulness.
It is difficult to face expectations far away and different from reality, that can be quite daunting in the department, but remember that the ministry is not yours or your husband’s, the ministry is the one that allowed you to serve him. it is God who sprouts the seed and it is he who must have a prominent place in this ministry.
Our minds can be very different when we begin to serve without having our eyes set on the expectations of our hearts, because it is deceptive and corrupt; our minds can be renewed when our eyes are eternal, looking to Christ, who did not consider to be equal to God, something that must be denied at all costs; on the contrary, he stripped himself, taking the form of a servant, reseaving himself to human beings; and, recognized as a human figure, humbled himself, becoming obedient to death and death on the cross, Philippians 2: 6-8
Christ is our reality and not only our expectations, he is the true example of perfect life, he is the true mold to which we must conform, it is true help and our support, it is the true love that loves us with grace. mercy without being deserved.
May God help us to be wise and sensible women, to build their homes, to help their husbands, to serve with their gifts and talents in ministry, and to fear only the Lord, always looking at the reality that Christ is already for us.