I am starting a new series for men only. But women are not excluded! They are needed. Why? So they can keep their husbands accountable.
In the years I have been in ministry, I have noticed a trend. Men doing their hardest work in ministry but forgetting what God truly wants from them; serving their spouses, kids and working even harder in their jobs.
Over the years, I have had wives complain about their husbands to me. One time I had a wife and the kids watching the dad cleaning the church restrooms.
- The wife looked right at me and said,”I wish he would do that at home. I can’t get him to lift a finger inside the house. He takes care of us, but he does not do any of the stuff he does for the church.”
I wish I could say that I was stunned or at least surprised. But, more and more, I see people, specifically men, who will go out of their way to be respected at church but not care what their wives and children think of them. The story below is about a man who was not yet married to this woman, yet he served her from the start of their relationship. You will have to read all the story of Ruth but it is a wonderful story of a man who works hard, and yet has time to serve his future wife. We see a story of a man who redeemed this woman to him. He loved her enough to take care of her even before the two-way relationship and benefits were in full view.
“”…Then Boaz said, “Do not let it be known that a woman came to the threshing floor.” 15 And he told her, “Bring the shawl you are wearing and hold it out.” When she did so, he shoveled six measures of barley into her shawl. Then he went into the city. 16 When Ruth returned to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked her, “How did it go, my daughter?” Then Ruth told her all that Boaz had done for her.…”” Ruth chapter 3 verses 14b-16 Berean Study Bible
Men, when was the last time you washed dishes just because? Or did the laundry so your wives would not have to? These chores are not just for women.
- These chores are an extension of loving your wives when you see that they are tired and need a little help. More importantly, these little things that you do in serving your wives, redeems them to have a deeper love and respect for you.
The redeeming rewards will be your children seeing how the husband loves his wife. Your kids in turn will love and respect their mom and have a profound love for the way they see you treating and redeeming their mom!
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Serve at home before you go and try to at church. That should be your motto. Serve here before there!
You will find the blessings that come from serving your family and you will be fulfilling the qualifications of a true leader or Elder. These qualifications are in short supply and are highly needed in the modern church.
- There are too many men who want to be respected at church but are failing miserably where it’s most needed, in their homes…
More on this next post in this series.
Modern churches have forgotten the value of community. Some are so large that newcomers can visit and not have anyone say hello except those that are serving in the ‘greeter’ ministry. I once attended a church that is well-known because of its founder. My family and I went in, no one in the parking or church entrance greeted us. No one during service said hello, no one said anything to us as we left the church.
