LISTENING HUSBANDS HAVE AN ADVANTAGE

MEMORY VERSE: but God said to Abraham, ‘do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called, Genesis 21:12

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Deut 12, Ps 97-98, Isa 40, Rev 10

BIBLE STUDIES: Genesis 21:8-13

The role of the leader is to serve the people not to boss them or lord over them. The role of the head is to serve the body. While every other part of the body is sleeping, the brain is busy working just to ensure that all is well with the body. The greatest leader the world ever knows was Jesus; He spent his entire life serving the poor and washing the feet of his disciples. The difference between a dictator and a leader is that leaders serve while dictators don’t. Mark 9:35 says and he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, if any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.

As a husband you are the head of the family. Ephesians 5:23 says for the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the savior of the church. The role of the husband is to serve not boss over his wife. The role of the wife is to submit to her husband, Ephesians 5:22. Good leaders listen to their subordinates, but tyrants or dictators don’t. There is nothing wrong in a husband listening to his wife’s wise and godly counsels. Whether you believe it or not women are more intuitive than man, listening to their wise and godly counsels has its advantages.

Pontius Pilate could have been guilty of crucifying Jesus if not for the wise and godly counsel of his wife. She said to him ‘have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him (Matthew 27:19).’ Immediately Pilate heard that he washed his hands off the case of Jesus. The husband of the great woman of Shunem would have died without a child if not for the wise and godly counsel of his wife. She told the husband that they needed to build a house for the man of God and that one agreed (2 Kings 4:8-13). A year later he became a father. In Genesis 21:8-13, Sarah had an insight on a personal family matter and Abram felt that she was wrong. God told Abraham listen to the voice of his wife. Arrogant husbands who refuse to listen to their wives because they think they know it all will fall flat on their face.

ACTION POINT: Listen to wise and godly counsel of your wife.

GOOD IDEA VS GOD'S IDEA

 MEMORY VERSE : But the wisdom from above is is first pure, then peaceable,gentle,and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. James 3:17 

 BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : Lev 16, Ps 19, Pr 30, 1 Tim 1. 

 BIBLE STUDIES : Genesis 16:1-6 

 The word 'good idea' is relative. A good idea yesterday could turn out to be a bad idea today e.g. in the area of Nigeria where I came from, it used to be a good idea to have tribal marks. Today it is not so anymore. Also a bad idea yesterday could turn out to be a good idea today. Hundreds of years ago it was a bad idea to educate girls not anymore . Thank God we now have female doctors, pilots even prime ministers. A good idea in one part of the world could turn out to be a bad idea in another part of the world an vice versa. In western culture it is a good idea to keep eye contact when you are been addressed by someone older. It means you are listening and you are not hiding anything. Meanwhile in Africa it is considered rude and could attract the wrath of the fellow addressing you. 

 A good idea in one religion is a very bad idea in another religion. In Christianity it is ok to eat beef but in Hindu religion cows are sacred. One thing with all good ideas is that it may bring an un-intended response or it can turn out to be a bad idea after all. In our bible studies is a prime example of this. Abram and Sarai thought it was a good idea for Abram to have children through Hagar (Sarai's maid) since Sarai had passed child bearing age. That turned out to be a mistake of a life time because immediately Hagar became pregnant she became rude to her boss. 

 When an idea is of God, it will always turn out good. God's idea always has a God ending i.e. joyous ending. The idea may not seem too good at first but the end is always good. An example of this is found in 2 Chronicles 20:1-26. Two mighty nations - children of Ammon and Moab waged against a very small city of Judah. Jehoshaphat reported this matter to God and the Lord instructed him to go to war with choirs instead of soldiers. This did not seem like a good idea but nevertheless Jehoshaphat obeyed .At the end they won the battle and became rich too.

 ACTON POINT : Always follow God's Idea.