We’ve heard of that famous Bible saying, “Obedience is better than sacrifice” which was a quote from the book of 1 Samuel 15:22, but does it still apply today? It’s so long ago and way even before the Middle Ages, why should we still pay attention to it? We’re in the 21st century now and women are liberated. We do what we want to do these days, this thing can’t possibly still apply to us? This is what I was thinking when I had married my husband 23 years ago. I did not want to repeat that word “obey” when the minister that was officiating our wedding wanted me to repeat after him the wedding vow. I hesitated and even laughed out loud before I could say it. I had such a hard time saying it. Sure, I’m not alone on this. We’ve heard of many other women out there omitting it and wanting nothing to do with it, but does it still matter? Well, let me paint a picture for you of a true 21st century story that I know of.
A woman married this man and promised to obey him and be with him until death do they part. Many years later and many children later, with God’s calling in their lives they followed the Lord. But one day the husband wanted to go back to their old country. He believed he could best provide for the family that way, but the wife hesitated back and forth about following him and finally, made up her mind not to go back with him. She found nothing to go back to. He on the other hand, found only stress and pressures in the country they were in. He couldn’t provide for his children the way he wanted to, and was torn between the church he had in the old country and the one he was pastoring in the new country. He thought it was best for them to go back home and leave the new church to one of his older children. His heart was in going back home. He was very unhappy and finally one of his children told him to just go ahead and go back home, alone. So to make a long story short, he went back home and left his family. In his loneliness he fell and committed adultery and ended up with a woman from the church he was pastoring. When this was all known, the churches that were a part of his organization under him all forsook him. He ended up selling his own church and living with this new “wife” of his. The children he had left in the new country were devastated and inconsolable, and his wife brokenhearted. Every thing they had worked together for was gone. The years of building the church and their marriage together were gone.
Let me ask you something, do you think it would have been wiser for the woman to have gone back with her husband and obeyed him? I think so. I believe obedience still matters. Even though it sounds so old fashioned, God’s word hasn’t changed. He tells us:
Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. {Luke 21:33}
God hasn’t changed. Jesus Christ is still the same yesterday, today and forever. {Hebrews 13:8} If God had told King Saul back in the time of Samuel that he wants obedience more than burnt offerings or sacrifice, He still means it today. We may think obeying our husbands is so old fashioned and so archaic, but if we want God’s blessing and peace in our homes, we better take heed. Apostle Paul told us in his writings:
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. {Ephesians 5:22-24}
There is security, there is blessings, and there is peace in our homes when we obey and submit to our husbands. But if we’re not convinced that we should obey our husbands then I suggest we have a talk with the Lord about it. Maybe you’re right. Not all situations are the same. We’re all individuals. Maybe your husband is leading you in the wrong path and you’re better off without him. I don’t know what your situation is, but the Lord sure does. He knows and understands what you’re going through. But wherever you are and whatever you’re going through, the best thing to do is to check with the Lord and make your talk with Him mandatory. He will tell you what to do if you really seek Him for answers. He tells us in His word:
And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. {Jeremiah 29:13}
Does obedience still matter? I think so. It may be old fashioned and out of date, but obeying our husbands is still in the word of God and He hasn’t changed.
Prayer
Father thank You for Your boundless love upon Your people today. Thank You that You never ever change and that You care so much for us and will continue to lead us and guide us to all truth if we are obedient to You.
Lord God I know that You are still very much in touch of our lives today. We may think You’re back in the old way of thinking and cannot possibly understand us today, but nothing passes Your understanding because Your word says that You know all things. Therefore, even in our day and age of liberal movements and women’s free choices and freedom, You still love us and care for us and want what is best for us. Indeed You understand us. You want peace and joy in our homes and You want our children happy too. I know Father that obeying our husbands is still very important in Your eyes. It’s still the way to peace in our homes. Please Father help us to see this, help us to do what You desire for us to do today.
I thank You that nothing escapes You and if we are with a husband that oppresses us and will not repent and follow You, I know You will help us also to do what is right and good in Your eyes regarding this. You love us and You will show us the way if we seek You with all of our hearts to know what to do. You will not subject us to oppression and misery. You will help us to be happy because You want us to be happy. Please Father, help us today to follow You, hear Your dealings with us, and most importantly talk to You about everything. Help us to trust in Your love for us today and believe that You understand us. I pray all of this in Your most wonderful and precious name, Jesus. Thank You, Father. Amen.
