I know many women that are the only Christ-centered one in the home. They collectively have the same story. I recently taught all the women in the church a lesson from 1 Corinthians on this very subject.

I Corinthians chapter 7 is Paul addressing marriage and divorce. He is speaking here to those saved that have unsaved spouses. He is telling them to NOT leave their spouse, but rather stay in the home and through godly living you can lead them to Christ. He says that you have no idea whether or not they will become Christians themselves, so keep on being married to them.

I Corinthians 7:13-17
“And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such [cases]: but God hath called us to peace.
For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save [thy] husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save [thy] wife?
But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk.”

This passage in the Bible was during a time similar to other countries in our day. Here in America most homes practice NO religion. Everyone just does what is right in his own eyes (quote from the book of Judges). So today in America when a spouse gets “saved” at church, they come home to tell their significant other what happened just to get an, “oh honey, that’s nice.” Sometimes it may be a not-so-nice name they are called then life goes on pretty much as normal.

In other countries today, many homes are practicing a religion rigorously. Many families not only go to church once or twice a week but are at their synagogues and mosques daily and they are teaching their children day in and day out of Muhammad, Buddah, or Allah. They may even send their children away to a school to better learn the religion. Their religion affects the way they dress, eat, talk, etc.. They are totally succumbed to the religious ways of their false gods. In these countries, if a spouse comes home to tell their honey they got “saved” today and gave their heart to Jesus Christ the ONE true God, the battle is on! Danger is on the horizon. This is a great betrayal to the entire family and you WILL be asked to leave- if you are fortunate! In Africa while doing mission work there back in 1998 we had the privilege to meet several young college age students that were raised in these tribes with witch doctors, voodoo, and casting spirits of dead ancestors into new born babies. I say it was a privilege to have met these men because they accepted Christ and were thrown out of their villages and families forever. They will never again see their loved ones and they will live as an outcast from the very family to which they were born. All in the name of Christ. These are my heroes!

Paul experienced the same persecution when he got “saved”. He was such a well-known Jew. He was a leader of the Jews. He and his people hated Jesus Christ so much they killed Him and His followers. Stephen was the first recorded death for Christ and Paul was the overseer. He thought he was doing the right thing. After his encounter with Christ at his conversion, he was ridiculed and put away by his family. Some theologians suspect that Paul had a wife but she abandoned him after his conversion. We do know that the Jews serving with him and under him must have had a strong hatred for him after this. He was thrown into prison, shipwrecked and terribly mistreated even unto death for his proclamation that Christ was indeed the Son of God.

Here in this passage Paul is telling newly saved wives that if your husband will allow you to stay then by all means stay. Count it a blessing that you get to live like Christ in front of them! They may even convert after seeing your changed life.

I know that a wife is the central nervous system of most homes. If she is a Christian, then the rest of the home will know it. Her husband is the head of the home and the head of the marriage, but the woman is the heart of the home. She is the one that serves guests, teaches and raises the children, and she is the attitude control in the home. You know the saying, “If momma ain’t happy, ain’t no body happy.” That is so true! But it can also be true that if Momma is gentle, sweet, and lady-like, then everyone will love being around momma! When you are a Christ-centered person you are contagious. Everyone wants to be around you. Even in the darkest room you will shine bright. Even when all the people around you are negative, you seem to always remember the positive. Josh and I have an uncle Ronnie that is new to our family this year. He told me several years ago that his mother was truly a godly lady. She would never say anything bad about anyone no matter what they had done. One day while talking about some women in the community that had done some terrible things he asked his mother what she thought about her and her response was, “Son, some women just are not ladies.” We should all strive to be ladies.

No one is Christ-centered until Christ becomes everything t0 them. Reading the Bible and prayer become a HUGE part of their day. The Christ-centered women lets her husband and her children know that her prayer time and Bible reading time are private and important. Her time with Christ does not end there because she is praying throughout the day.

Proverbs 31
“Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price [is] far above rubies.
The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
She perceiveth that her merchandise [is] good: her candle goeth not out by night.
She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household [are] clothed with scarlet.
She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing [is] silk and purple.
Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
She maketh fine linen, and selleth [it]; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
Strength and honour [are] her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue [is] the law of kindness.
She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband [also], and he praiseth her.
Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
Favour [is] deceitful, and beauty [is] vain: [but] a woman [that] feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.”