Work and Marriage

How is Work designed by God?

* Every facet of marital living involves work.
* Leadership and subordination is always demonstrated through the work involved.

<Ge 2: 15>: The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.

<Ge 2:18>: The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”

<Ge 3:17>: To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’ “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life.

How does work affects our individual’s dignity and value?

* Work brings about human fulfilment.

* Even as a child of God, you can’t feel the SENSE of value and dignity if you despise work.

<Jn 5:17>: Jesus said: My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.

How much work to do such that it is fulfilling and healthy for a marriage?

1) The God-given role of a man (leadership) and woman (subordination) supersedes that of financial and task capability.

E.g. The smart and capable wife to help the husband lead better.

E.g. The man who knows how to lead must help their wife be better helpers.

2) Study the real needs of the family and plan the division of labour.

3) How much work should the woman do?

* <Proverbs 31:10-31> The Noble Woman

<v11>: Her husband has full confidence in her…

<v12>: She brings him good, not harm…

<v13>: She selects wool and flax…           

<v14>: She is like the merchant ships…

<v15>: She gets up while it is still night…

<v16>: She considers a field and buys it…

<v17>: She sets about her work vigorously…

<v20>: She opens her arms to the poor…

<v21>: When it snows, she has no fear for her household…

<v23>: Her husband is respected at the city gate…

<v26>: She speaks with wisdom…

<v27>: She watches over the affairs of her household…

<v28>: Her children arise and call her blessed…

* As much as her potential allows her to.

4) How much work should a man do?

* Everything it takes to lead a family.

* <Eph 5:25-26>: Husbands, you are to love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy…