God has given women the unique roles of wife and mother, responsibilities designed to complement the leadership of husbands and fathers. These roles are deeply rooted in Scripture, reflecting God’s perfect plan for the family. A wife and mother’s calling is one of submission, love, nurture, and spiritual guidance, creating a home where Christ is glorified.
The Role of a Wife
The role of a wife is to be a helper, supporter, and nurturer within the family. Her responsibilities are rooted in God’s creation order and the biblical principle of submission.
Submission and Partnership
God calls wives to submit to their husbands in love and respect, reflecting the church’s submission to Christ. Ephesians 5:22-24 states:
“Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.”
This submission is not about inferiority but about honoring God’s design for family order. It is a willing and joyful partnership that supports the husband’s leadership.
Love and Respect
A wife is called to love and respect her husband, creating a relationship of mutual care and encouragement. Titus 2:4-5 emphasizes the importance of this love:
“That they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.”
Respect builds the husband up, affirming his role as leader while fostering unity in the marriage.
Helper and Encourager
God created woman to be a helper to man. Genesis 2:18 declares:
“And the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.'”
A wife’s role as helper involves supporting her husband in his God-given responsibilities, encouraging him spiritually, emotionally, and practically.
Nurturer of the Home
A wife is called to create a home environment that reflects God’s peace and order. Proverbs 31:27 describes this nurturing role:
“She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.”
This involves managing the household with wisdom and care, ensuring that it is a place where love and faith thrive.
The Role of a Mother
As a mother, a woman is entrusted with the responsibility of nurturing, teaching, and raising her children in the ways of the Lord. This role is vital for shaping the next generation and pointing them toward Christ.
Spiritual Guidance
A mother’s primary responsibility is to instill the truths of God’s Word in her children’s hearts. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 applies equally to mothers:
“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.”
Mothers play a crucial role in discipling their children and creating a home centered on Christ.
Nurturing and Comfort
God has designed mothers to provide tender care and comfort to their children. Isaiah 66:13 compares God’s comfort to that of a mother:
“As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you.”
A mother’s nurturing presence provides emotional security and demonstrates God’s love in action.
Training and Discipline
Mothers are called to lovingly discipline their children, guiding them toward righteousness. Proverbs 22:6 teaches:
“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”
This training includes correction, encouragement, and teaching God’s Word daily.
Sacrificial Love
Motherhood requires sacrificial love that puts the needs of children above personal desires. 1 Thessalonians 2:7 compares a mother’s love to gentle care:
“But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.”
This love reflects the heart of Christ and demonstrates the gospel to children in tangible ways.
Qualities of a Godly Wife and Mother
To fulfill her roles effectively, a wife and mother must exhibit the following qualities:
Love: A deep, sacrificial love for her husband and children, mirroring God’s love (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).
Wisdom: Living in accordance with God’s Word and teaching it to her family (Proverbs 31:26).
Submission: Respecting her husband’s leadership and trusting God’s design for the family (Ephesians 5:22).
Faithfulness: Diligently managing her household and remaining steadfast in her responsibilities (Proverbs 31:27).
Nurture: Providing comfort, care, and guidance to her children (Isaiah 66:13).
Hospitality: Welcoming others into her home and showing kindness to those in need (Proverbs 31:20).
A Reflection of God’s Character
The roles of wife and mother reflect God’s nurturing and supportive nature. Just as God cares for and nurtures His people, a wife and mother is called to do the same for her family. Psalm 127:3 emphasizes the blessing of children:
“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward.”
A wife and mother’s work is a sacred calling, demonstrating God’s love and pointing her family toward Christ.
My Final Thoughts
The roles of wife and mother are an essential part of God’s design for the family. A godly wife supports her husband through love, respect, and submission, while a godly mother nurtures her children in the faith, providing the love and care they need to thrive.
When women embrace these roles, they create homes where Christ is glorified, and families are strengthened. A wife and mother’s calling is not only a blessing to her family but a powerful witness of God’s love and wisdom to the world.
