Women, God’s China Tea Cups!
Wednesday, 26th of August 2009
Wow, I have been very encouraged by all of the positive comments about th
e message series. I don’t really know what I was expecting but I guess I thought there would be more flak than there has been. Maybe this is the calm before the storm? (Hope not…:>)) A Few people have said that I spent too much time in the beginning of each message ‘apologizing’ for what I was about to say…which certainly was not my intention. I simply thought that it would be good for everyone to know the journey that I have been on for the past six months in coming to the Biblical conclusions that I have about all of this. Most of the information and teaching that I am giving each week is the compilation of hours of reading and study, which would be impossible to present in its full form on a Sunday morning. So the intro is all about letting you know how I’ve come to my conclusions Biblically. Anyway thanks to everyone who has been so encouraging to me, it means a lot! Before we get to the subject at hand, let me first give you the podcast link to the Mark Driscoll sermon on Marriage and women. http://www.marshillchurch.org/media/trial/marriage-and-women Because I gave the link for the men I thought it would only be fair to include the ladies as well. Please go and listen and I think it will add to your insights on this topic.
Today I want to refer to a verse that we used on the week we talked to the men, but which relates to the sermon about women. 1 Peter 3:7 says that men should live with their wives in an understanding way as with “someone weaker”! Wow did Peter really say that women are weaker? Yep! That’s exactly what he said. Some versions use the words the “weaker vessel”. While those words do come from the original language, they are not used for the purpose of ascribing worth or value in the relationship. I believe that Peter is trying to help us to get our minds around the need for men to be understanding of their wives as they live with them. Part of that understanding is that in comparison to men they need to be treated with care as they are a precious vessel which is not meant to be treated roughly and without care. I like the analogy of the ‘precious china tea cup’ v. the ‘old metal mug’, because it helps us to understand that the difference is at the heart of our design not about some flaw or mistake, or a result of the structure in society. I believe that means God created women to be a ‘china cup’ physically, emotionally, and relationally. Ladies don’t ever let a man tell you that you are no good or have no value, because of the fact that you are not built the same way he is. That was God’s intent, that you should present the softer side of the “one-flesh” union of a man and a woman.
Our world would be in trouble if we were depending on the men to provide the nurturing that is a natural part of how God designed a woman to be. While that passage is speaking to the men about having understanding, I think it also gives us some insight into how you ladies are to respond. Despite what some feminists would say, you do not need to prove anything about what you are or raise your status as a woman! God has already put your status up there as a precious china cup and he has instructed men to treat you accordingly! So stop striving to prove yourself to be like men or equal to them or better then them…you are special, unique and different and that has been God’s intent and design all along. As worthy men begin to obey God and His purpose for them you will have an exalted place in society, your homes, the church and the world.
As we continue to build on our series Sunday we will deal with the topic of God’s Design of for the Home. Please post any questions or comments you may have so that I can know what you are thinking! Some scripture to meditate on…
Ephesians 5:33
33 Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.
Your Shepherd,