Directions for godly
women
Key Verses: 2, 5, 8, 9, 11
We need
to pray for those in our government, so that they don’t prevent us from leading
a quiet, godly life. Part of what I hear Paul saying is that the government has
the ability to make our lives miserable, just a Rome did in this period of
history. They got into individuals business in intrusive ways. We need to pray
that government would get out of the way of living godly lives. They should be
supporting godly living because godly living benefits everyone, even those who
don’t live godly lives.
But
notice that Paul does not compromise on the Truth. Government is not the
answer. Jesus, the one mediator, is. Government can either inhibit or permit,
get in the way or stay out of the way. Government has a role, but it must be
restrained. Paul wanted prayers so that the government would not get in the way
of his mission of sharing the Gospel with the Gentiles.
Men and
women sometimes have different struggles in life. It seems that Paul pointed
out men’s tendency toward anger and disputing. Men can get sidetracked in the
spiritual walk by acting out of anger to circumstances that would be better
handled by prayer. When we are not in touch with Jesus through prayer, we can
react to so many different things with anger. Anger often comes as a result of
not feeling respected.
Women
often have the problem of not feeling cherished, special. So out of that lack
they do up the outside, hoping it will make their inside feel better. It can
work for a while, but everyone sags, wrinkles and fades over time. Without lots
of money, plastic surgery, and compulsive exercise, our bodies change and there
is nothing we can do about it. Paul says those outward looks are not important
in the long run. What is important is how we act, what we do.
Both men
and women need to live their lives in a way that honors the Lord. The
particulars might change over time and be culturally adapted, but there are
some absolutes. In some places in the world a man must have a beard or they are
showing disrespect and rebellion. In some cultures, a woman with a shaved head
is acceptable. Beard or hair really makes little difference. What God wants
from us is godly living, bearded or bald.
Culturally,
women in leadership was not widely accepted in Paul’s day. Evidently, there
were some women whose leadership was becoming an offense, and causing
difficulties. We don’t know the specifics, but Paul says that their actions did
not demonstrate proper submission, submission to God’s authority. Are your
actions demonstrating submission to God’s authority in your life?