Leaving a legacy
1 Peter 3:7Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
Last weekend a group of twelve men went on an overnight retreat. The first night was a lesson on Spiritual Leadership and the next morning was on Vision Mapping for 2009 for our men's ministry and for our relationship with our wives. The speaker on Friday night spoke a lot about past experiences and biblical truths. One comment that he made was, "What blood is to a life, communication is to a marriage." He then challenged all of the men, roughly 300, to go home and ask our wives the following questions:
#1 On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate our marriage? #2 What would it take to make it a 10? #3 Ask her if there is anything stressing her out right now? #4 Ask her how you can help? #5 Ask her what you can do that really makes her feel loved? #6 Ask her what is annoying her right now? #7 Ask her what God is teaching her? Ask her what her goals are, and how can you help her with them?
For some of you reading this, you are probably saying there is no way that I want to have my wife answer these questions. You are probably thinking that you have to butter her up by taking her on a vacation or buying her something very expensive before you ask this. And then there are some of you that are probably thinking that your wife will surely give you a "9" or possibly even a "10". In whatever camp you may be in, I challenge you to take a moment and ask your wife these questions. Be prepared for some hurtful truths (get over yourselves because our egos can handle it). After you process her answers and get over the shock of what she may say or what she may want, put it into motion and don't just "talk" about it.
A spiritual leader is to be Christ-like and under the Spirit's control. A Spiritual Leader reflects Christ and has his priorities and shares them with his family. Leadership is the ability to communicate vision and the will to have people "own" this vision and follow it. Our wives want us to take the role of Spiritual Leader, whether they are in the right place with God or not. They look for us to work with them as their equal. They are the Vice President of our family corporation. We must understand our wives. We must become a student of our wives. We must strive for a doctorate (PHD) on our wives. If we can do this, then imagine what our children will become. Imagine what they will look for in a husband and/or wife. Imagine what can happen at home, at work, at church and in the community.
What is God telling you right now? Is the Spirit convicting you right now? In all things acknowledge Him and he will bless you!