Catch up from the previous post here.
Today, preacher’s wives, I’m talking to us. We need to toss out the idea that there even is a club for us. We need to demystify who we are. We need to stop excluding and elevating ourselves. We need to stop resenting the church and our husband’s work. We need to realize we have unique needs but we’ve also been handed a sobering and blessed opportunity to hold up the hands of a man of God and impact a generation of the Lord.
You have a ministry.
You don’t have to act like the first lady, but you do need to invest your talents into the kingdom. Your talents. You can’t invest someone else’s talents. You can and are expected to invest yours.
The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone… dividing it in proportion to their abilities. (read the story here.)
Your life will be scrutinized.
Your career, your eating habits, your parenting methods. Clothe diapers or disposable. Work outside the home or full-time keeper of the home. All of it is being carefully watched by someone as we speak.
It isn’t fair?
Maybe it is or maybe it’s not. It doesn’t really matter. It’s just how it is. Stop wasting time trying to make the church play fair and just jump into the game.
You are an example.
Once you embrace the fact that you are indeed living in a fish bowl, you can embrace the power in your example. As others scrutinize, influence them through your humility, gentleness and desire for holiness. Let others see your dedication to God, your family and to the church. Live the lessons God wants you to teach.
Within moments of Azaiah’s death God spoke this loud and clear to me. “Everything you have ever taught hinges on this moment. Do you really believe?” I knew that this was my moment of reckoning. Do I really believe all the things I ever claimed about Jesus, the Kingdom, Heaven? I did. And I still do.
Be You
You don’t have to teach classes, host dinner parties or single-handedly organize VBS, funeral dinners and baby showers. You don’t have to have a meticulous house. You don’t have to always be happy or smiling. You’ve got to be you, the good the bad and the ugly.
In the past year and half there have been moments that I didn’t want to get out of bed, let alone go to church and feign happiness. So I didn’t. My church has met me where I am. They have sat on my couch of mourning, washed my dirty clothes and wiped my tears. They picked up the slack of all my responsibilities in the home and in the church. I am me, the good, the bad and the ugly.
Everything you do will hinder or further your husband’s ministry.
Sisters, you really do not want to answer to Jesus for being the tool Satan uses to thwart your husband’s work. I am disgusted and disturbed by how many materialistic, selfish and carnal women are doing just this. There are men who are willing to live the Great Commission, but their wives are too attached to their hometown, comfortable life style or their Mama. Sister, if that is you, you will answer to God for every soul you prevented from hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Furthermore, everything you do will affect how he perceived by others. Everything you do will either make his personal walk with God easier or more difficult.
- Spending habits
- House keeping (I said you don’t have to have a meticulous home, but if you are living an episode of hoarders its effecting everything)
- Work schedule
- Discipline of kids
- Time away from home
- How you spend your free time
There are no sacred cows when it comes to following Jesus. If you need to get rid of some things in your life to make you more of an encouragement than a hindrance, do it!
Your husband needs you.
Your #1 ministry is him. Remember back in Eden when God made Adam. He was alone so God created his ezer kenegdo, “sustainer beside him.” At the end of the day what you offer to the church pales in comparison to what you offer your husband.
He is battling powers of darkness all day, what sort of refuge do you create for him when he gets home? Does he have to fight more battles with you? Or does he find respite and refuge? Are you ready to receive him? He needs YOU. His need for you was woven into his heart by the Creator. You are God’s answer to his stress, his trials, his heartache, his exhaustion. You may not hold the office of “The Preacher’s Wife” but you are the wife of man who is preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. Step up and take seriously the eternal weight of the work God has called you to do.
May he equip you with all you need for doing his will.
May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ,
every good thing that is pleasing to him.
All glory to him forever and ever! Amen. Heb. 13:21