Chapter Three ~ A Covenant of Companionship

"She is your companion and your wife." Malachi 2:14

God created us with a need for companionship. Marriage was designed to be the primary source on earth for that companionship. As wives we are called to be a companion and friend to our husband. We are to be close to their hearts. This responsibility is not dependant on the behavior of our spouse. Christ was known as the one who ate with "tax collectors and sinners". When we were deep in our sin, He was a friend by suffering on a cross, extending a hand of mercy and forgiveness. We can show who Christ is by being a friend to our husband when he sins. We can show him mercy, forgiveness and tenderhearted help.
Marriage is a covenant. It is to be an unending relationship of companionship. God has entered into a covenant with His people. He has united Christ with His bride, the church. "You cannot be the kind of companion and helper that God created you to be without first being renewed by His transforming covenant in your heart...we who have tasted of the mercy of His covenant love are now enabled to flow out with it to our husbands." p. 57

Jeremiah 31:34 says "for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more."
God has forgiven my iniquity and my sin He no longer remembers! Because of God's faithfulness to me I have the power to forgive when I am sinned against. I have the power to remember that sin no more. God in His goodness has done so much for me, He loves me so completely. I can only ask Him to enable me to do the same for the one He has given me to be a companion to for the rest of my days.

Chapter Two ~ His Companion, His Helper

Then the Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him." Genesis 2:13

When God created Adam He said that it was not good for man to be alone. He then created a helper for Adam, Eve. As women God has created us in His image to be helpers. We are to reflect who God is. He is our helper. "When the Bible says that God is our helper, it means that He protects, aids, succors, supports, and surrounds us." p 38 When we do these same things we are showing who God is. The Holy Spirit is given the name Helper. He is our counselor, comforter, intercessor, consoler and advocate. These are all things we are called to be to our husbands. The church, Christ's bride, is called help believers. We are to care for one another through biblical fellowship and we are called to help with the great commission. Being a helper is an honor, it is a way to reflect God and bring Him glory.

I have been thinking about what it means to glorify God by helping my husband. In the past my thinking has been that a helper is one who does less of the work. When you say that God is my helper, that thinking doesn't work. He does all the work. There are times when my flesh feels like I am doing most of the work around the home and I begin to resent being a helper. Christ never resents me, He never gets tired of meeting my needs. He didn't say on the cross "Why do I have do all the work to save her?". Christ's attitude was one of humility. "He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." Philippians 2:8

Chapter One ~ In His Image

"Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them."
Genesis 1:26-27

"All humanity (men and women), then are equally representations of God and are like Him in certain aspects." p 21


God has created men and women in His image. This means that although we are not exactly like God, there are attributes that He shares, and ways that we reflect who God is. He has called us to do certain tasks and in these tasks we represent His image. We are called to rule over creation. "Men and women are called to be God's co-regents, working and ruling in His world, under His authority, for our happiness and His glory." p 26 We are called to relate like Him. "God in His perfection is diverse, yet the same. God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are all the same in their being (all equally God), yet different in the functions." p 26 Men and women are equally in God's image, yet we have different roles. We are called to reproduce. This is not limited to having children. "We teach, mentor, and disciple others who are not directly a part of our biological family." p 28 We are called to reflect on the world around us. We are called to rejoice. "The ability and desire to praise what brings us pleasure is simply a reflection of the adoration that has always existed within the Trinity." p29 And lastly we are called to rest. "He then set the seventh day apart by blessing it as a time for the most special and pleasing enjoyment of man: to revel in the sweet joy of fellowship with his Creator and to observe His great acts." p 29

So, what does this mean to me? This week as I read this chapter I've been thinking about what it means to me, as a woman, to rule, in light of the fact that I'm also called to be a helper. I'm called to rule as a helper. To me this means that I am not to rule for my own agenda, but the one I am helping. I so frequently want to rule things my way for my purposes. But it's not about me! I am to rule for the glory of God and the glory of my husband. I am to seek the Lord's priorities and my husbands priorities, not mine. This means dying to myself. It means forsaking my desires for the Lord's. Christ is the ultimate example of this. He made His Father's goals His goals. He became one with His Father's will. This is for my good and His glory.

Introduction

"In the chapters to come, together we'll discover what it means to be a companion and helper. We'll learn how to pursue oneness with our spouses without losing sight of our individuality, and we'll take a watchful stroll down the often-perilous path of biblical submission. In all endeavors you'll find encouragement to become aware of what it means to be a woman created in the image of God, a woman who has been designed to be a helper and companion, and you'll learn the sweet pleasures embodied in that calling." p 14

As we begin this study it is important for us to remember these three fundamental truths.

1. The Bible is our guide.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work."

2. Our primary call is to reflect His Son

Romans 8:29 "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren."

3. We need God's grace and power.

Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast."

Let's get started!

I am going to be doing a study through the book Helper by Design by Elyse Fitzpatrick over the next three months at Rockville Bible Church. Each week we will be reading a chapter and answering the questions at the end of the chapter. I will be posting a brief summary of the chapter each week along with my thoughts. Please feel free to send in your thoughts and comments. This is my first time blogging so please be patient with me as I learn the ins and outs of the cyber world. I am looking forward to seeing what God will do in the lives of His beloved children.