I recently attended an awesome day-long conference for women. During the Q&A session near the end of the day a woman asked: “Are the men receiving this kind of instruction, because they really need it?”
The pastor who was leading the meeting answered quickly, “That is not your business!” Startled, we waited for the rest of his answer. He explained that we did not need to be concerned about what the men were learning; we only needed to concern ourselves with living out the instruction we had been given.
As I thought about this exchange I remembered how often this question is voiced in our Wives’ meetings. Sympathetic with the sentiment behind the question I, too, have prayed that the husbands would be held to the same standard of biblical instruction. Why do I want that -- Because it is ‘fair’? Because it would make my life easier?
More than anything, I think I want to excuse my desire to be disobedient, and to excuse myself from the hard work obedience requires. “I shouldn’t have to do it if he doesn’t have to do it,” is my childish cry. But the most important and intelligent thing I can do with new information is to allow myself to be changed, and allow God to be in charge of others.
So the answer for me is clearly: “Grow up and mind your own business!”
But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth]. (James 1:22 AMP)
©Tina Green 2010
