Monday, November 12, 2007

the bride of Christ

[God is teaching me a lot. hence the abundance of posts here.]

when i get married someday, i am going to need to be a good steward of my husband's resources, including his money, his household, and his time. i need to be able to forgive, and to demonstrate the type of love described in 1 corinthians, which "suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." i need to be willing to submit to a man in anything, excepting any commands to sin against God. this is what the faithfulness of cleaving looks like, which is one of the many qualities of being a good wife. people who can offer an objective opinion and who care about me should confirm my readiness for marriage, including my parents and others who know me well. the Holy Spirit bestows confidence and peace in my heart and through His Word when i am in His will. so when i am ready for marriage, i imagine that i will feel that peace, and that i will demonstrate the tangible qualities of being a good wife that are confirmed by other people.

i don't believe that i'm ready for marriage yet. i was considering last night what things are required of a wife. i knew that i should probably have good time management and good money management, as well as being able to manage household things. i asked myself why those qualities are important, and that is when it occured to me that it is because all of those things will be my husband's, and i will be called to manage my involvement in his time, his money, and his household in ways that will benefit him.

it further occured to me this morning that, though i am not ready to be married to a man, i am part of the church, and therefore already the bride of Christ. His time and His money and His resources have been placed into my hands, and it is up to me to manage those things well. i find that concept to be intriguing, to say the least.

kent said in church yesterday that the bible, in its reference to marriage, is really talking about Christ and the church. marriage is intended to glorify God by creating a beautiful metaphor of His love for the church. it's not about a man and a woman who are in love; it's about a Holy God who is in love with His bride.

"wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. ... husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her."