Clear Roles and Responsibilities
ICS Daily Devotions

Ephesians 5:25 (NKJV) Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.

The Bible lays out the difference between genders and their roles. Nonetheless, we must consider the position of wives carefully. On one extreme, there are cultures where women have no standing in the family and society, such that they are not even allowed to air their views or be seen in meetings. Conversely, in certain cultures, there is a demand for equal rights and privileges and strong advocacy for individualism, which is a deathbed for many marriages.

Our environment and culture can influence our perceptions of roles and responsibilities in a marriage. Unfortunately, the roles and responsibilities dictated by our cultures and traditions might not be correct or in line with what the Bible teaches. These different ideas, perceptions, traditions, teachings, and family practices are what lie behind many marriage challenges, especially in cross-cultural marriages.

If different expectations are not properly communicated, they can strain the marriage. Therefore, it is always better for the couple to discuss all the potential issues that they will face, using the Bible as a yardstick and guide, before they get married so that they will be on the same page.

A role is a position in which you are responsible for doing the work in that area to the best of your ability with the help of God. The man’s role is the husband and the father, and nobody can replace the husband or the father’s roles. The husband is also the head of the wife and takes on the role of a spiritual leader of the house.

The spiritual leader leads by example by bearing the fruit of the Holy Spirit. He guides them to walk in the ways of the Lord in moral values and principles. He models the prayer life for them. He leads them to worship in a local church and participates in serving and running with the church’s vision. He models for them what a Christian marriage looks like. He shows them what it means to be a good steward of money and possessions.

The woman’s role is a wife and a mother. The wife’s role is irreplaceable as there is only one wife, and so is the mother’s role because only she can give birth, and nobody can replace, bond, love, and care for the children better than her.

With clearly defined roles and responsibilities, the couple will enter the marriage with an open eye and complete knowledge of what is expected of them. They will have agreed, and therefore, they will walk together on this journey towards the same vision.

Sermon Series：Before You Say I Do