As we approached the church building, it was about 30 minutes before the service began. A truck was stopped under the canopy, which covered the front entry of the building. Husbands will often act as gentlemen and drop their wives and children off here so they do not have to walk in the rain. This time, it was not raining. Still, men drop their wives off at the church door to save her the walk through the parking lot, another act of love. It is a small gesture that is not overlooked and gives testimony to his wife that he values her.
On this occasion, the truck under the church canopy dropped off a woman, and her husband called out from his driver-side window, “I love you,” and drove on, leaving the church parking lot and entering the busy road out from the building. How sweet! This man clearly loved his wife. His wife held the door open for my wife and me with a smile and greeted us as we entered the building. Some of us men reading this article may not always drop their wives off at the front door of the church building, even when it is not raining. However, you do something even more powerful, something much more appreciated and valued, an act of love for her and your family. You walk into the church building with her.
Husbands, Are You Letting Her Fight the Devil Alone?
The Scripture will call her “the weaker vessel,” and she is weaker physically, but it is undeniably true that often it is the case that a woman is superior spiritually (1 Pet 3:1–2). Here is the call to action with this short article. Men, your wives are not meant to shoulder the responsibility of being the spiritual leader in the home (1 Cor 11:3; Eph 5:22–24). That is your position as the Christian husband, but often, it is seen that she is doing all the heavy lifting. He might drop her off at the church door, but she is the one doing all the fighting against Satan in your home. The husband is to be the spiritual leader, laboring together with his spouse. “Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered” (1 Pet 3:7 NKJV emp added).
Lead and Be Careful Where You Are Leading Her!
Husbands, your Christian wife, will work with you and submit to your leadership, so be very careful where you are leading her. Ananias and Sapphira are, unfortunately, great examples of husbands leading their wives down the wrong path. In Acts chapter five, it is written that Ananias sold a possession and kept back part of the proceeds. This was an action of deceit while everyone else distributed all of the proceeds (Acts 4:34–35 cf. 5:1–2). This decision will cost Ananias his life (Acts 5:5). In doing this terrible thing, Ananias, being the spiritual leader, influenced his wife, and you can also read the consequences.
Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?” She said, “Yes, for so much.” Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. Acts 5:7–10
Be the Spiritual Leader that God Desires
Notice the Bible says that Ananias and Sapphira had “agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord.” Ananias was acting alongside his wife but not “…as being heirs together of the grace of life…” (1 Pet 3:7) but as heirs together of death. Men, be the spiritual leader that God desires you to be and do not leave it up to her to go about it alone while you drop her off at the door and drive off, going down the wrong path. She just might follow you.
