Behind Every Man
1. How many men feel their wives are important, equal partners with them
and valuable to helping them get along in this life?
2. How many men would raise their hands if they weren’t sitting next to
their wives right now?
3. Behind every successful man stands a good woman. sometimes with a
cattle prod. cause we sometimes need it.
4. Many people think the ideal woman according to the Bible is domestic
and subservient. Woman in Prov 31 is excellent wife & mother. Also a
manufacturer, importer, mgr., Realtor, farmer, seamstress, upholsterer,
and merchant. Prov. 31 praises a noble woman who is a good wife,
mother, community member, and career woman.
5. 31:10 Worth far more than rubies. Prov. 12:4 “A wife of noble character
is her husband’s crown.” Hardly a day goes by I’m not aware of the value
of a good wife. Don’t always acknowledge it, but I am aware. Wendy & I
are like any couple - good days/bad days. I am incredibly blessed.
6. Knows names/dresses me/opinion invaluable/keeps abreast of world news
cares for me when I don’t deserve it/supportive/
7. Mother asked by county clerk what her job was, Mother not acceptable
job description. She wrote...I’m a research associate in the field of Child
Development & Human Relations...I have a continuing program of
research (what mother doesn’t?) in the laboratory, and in the field
(normally I would have said indoors & out.) I’m working for my Master’s
(for a whole family) and already have 4 credits (all daughters). Of course,
the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities (any mother care to
agree?) and often I work 14 hrs. a day (24 is more like it). But the job is
more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are in
the satisfaction rather than just money.
8. Women in O.T. did not have such lofty titles. Were property - treated as
such. Not allowed opinion or often allowed to even speak. Lot’s/Noah’s
9. Some O.T. women were important and highly valued. Deborah, Esther,
Sarah, Ruth, to name a few. Ruth & Esther are even books in O.T.
10. Deborah - Israelite judge and prophet. As judge combined military
leadership with performing legal functions. Plus a prophet. Led Israel to
victory over Canaanite forces. Barak refused to fight without Deborah.
11. Esther - Wife of King Xerxes. Cousin Mordecai heard two plotting to
kill the king. Prime Minister Haman planned to have all Jews killed.
Esther risked life by going to King uninvited. Haman plan backfired.
12. Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel played significant roles. Miriam, Moses’ sister,
Ruth was loyal to Naomi. They were: Rulers of nations, Patriots,
influential in public affairs, and prophets.
13. Godly women stand out in Jesus’ ministry. Elizabeth, mother of John
the Baptist, Mary, sinner who anointed, Mary Magdalene, and Martha
and Mary of Bethany.
14. Jesus entrusted a woman, Mary, with the very first proclamation of the
Gospel. Women remained at the cross until the burial and were the first at
the empty tomb. Paul’s first convert in Europe was Lydia, a businesswoman
In John 4:27-30, Jesus used a woman to bring out an entire village to hear
the Gospel. Rom. 16:1-2 Phoebe was called “a servant of the church....
worthy of all respect.”
15. N.T. commended these outstanding women for their direct involvement
in the advancement of the Gospel. In the Bible-that supposedly patriarchal
book designed to keep women in their place-women are called by God to
do all kinds of things.
16. For most of recorded history, women have had very little power. 19th
amendment in 1920. Illegal for women to vote. 25 yrs. ago women could not
sign for apt., credit card, apply for loan unless husband co-signed. Times
have changed. Women mayors in 80+ cities. 3 mil. businesses owned/oper.
by women, 50% of lawyers, accts., teachers are female. 1/3 all medical
degrees awarded to women. Have stepped out from behind men and are
equal partners.
17. The early church benefited greatly from the contributions of many
women. The church today is still benefiting from the work of women.
May there always be a surplus of women like Mary, Elizabeth, Mary
Magdalene, Phoebe, Deborah and the others.
