INTRODUCTION:
In this study, we shall focus
on God’s expectations with regards to the true nature of the feminine physic.
While the words ‘tough’ and ‘strong’ are synonymous, there is a big difference
between them especially as it relates to the issue at hand. While some
Christian women are commendably strong in every sense of it, others have gone
over the edge and have become tough. May
we be restored as we study in Jesus name, Amen.
WHO IS A STRONG WOMAN?
The word ‘strong’ means to be emotionally resilient, i.e. having the necessary
emotional qualities to deal with stress, grief, loss, risk, and other
difficulties. It also means to be energetic, to thrive, be effective, likely to succeed, healthy and
well. All these definitions
portray admirable qualities that every woman should possess because though the
bible said she is to be treated ‘like a weaker vessel’ she was not expessly called a weaker vessel as is commonly said in the
world today. A strong woman
simply put therefore is a woman of strength. She possesses enough strength to
raise above all limits and limitations, fulfill her destiny and be all that she
could be. The biblical strong woman is the Virtuous Woman in proverbs 12:4; 31:10-31 (especially verse 17 and 25).
Such a woman has the strength to be:
1.
An agriculturist
2.
A wonderful home maker and builder
3.
An employer of labour
4.
A philantropist
5.
A successful business woman
6.
A caring mother, and above all,
7.
A submissive wife who honours and respect her
husband because he does
not hide his head in shame but is known in the gates, when he sits among the
elders of the land, his heart can 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.
Wow! What an amazing woman. Is it really possible for such a woman to exist? The answer is Yes! She draws strength from her relationship with Jesus, her Lord and Master.
WHO IS A TOUGH WOMAN?
If a piece of meat is ‘tough’, it means it is hard
to chew or cut. Toughness therefore refers to being rough,
hard, harsh, hard-hitting, dangerous, difficult, threatening, and severe. None
of these words of definition closely relates with the ideal feminine nature.
A woman is tough when she is hard and difficult to manage or relate with. The husband of a biblical tough woman chooses to dwell on top of the roof or in the wilderness rather than live in the same house with her because she will end up plucking down her household with her own fingers instead of building it (Proverbs 14:1; 21:9 and 19).
Haven seen the undesirability of a tough woman, the question we need to ask is, ‘What makes a woman to become tough or decide to be tough?’ It could be due to her temperament, or life experiences; but it should be brought to mind that she is a partaker of God’s divine nature. Also it could result when she fails to realize the danger of focusing only on the result of strength without understanding the fact strength also has consequences, affection, and humility. In addition, the idea of a tough woman is deeply rooted in feminine liberalism, that is, the movement for male and female equality. The so called ‘equality’ is beyond just the belief in equal rights and opportunity with men, it is subtly more of acting like men, being domineering and contesting the biblical male headship. Thereby erasing the pleasant feminine appeal and destroying the gender distinction that God inherently had in mind in the creation. If God did not want a different species of female, He would have stopped creation after bringing man into existence.
In choosing a life partner, a man who comes across a tough woman will ask himself, ‘Can a man marry a man?"
A woman is tough when she is hard and difficult to manage or relate with. The husband of a biblical tough woman chooses to dwell on top of the roof or in the wilderness rather than live in the same house with her because she will end up plucking down her household with her own fingers instead of building it (Proverbs 14:1; 21:9 and 19).
Haven seen the undesirability of a tough woman, the question we need to ask is, ‘What makes a woman to become tough or decide to be tough?’ It could be due to her temperament, or life experiences; but it should be brought to mind that she is a partaker of God’s divine nature. Also it could result when she fails to realize the danger of focusing only on the result of strength without understanding the fact strength also has consequences, affection, and humility. In addition, the idea of a tough woman is deeply rooted in feminine liberalism, that is, the movement for male and female equality. The so called ‘equality’ is beyond just the belief in equal rights and opportunity with men, it is subtly more of acting like men, being domineering and contesting the biblical male headship. Thereby erasing the pleasant feminine appeal and destroying the gender distinction that God inherently had in mind in the creation. If God did not want a different species of female, He would have stopped creation after bringing man into existence.
In choosing a life partner, a man who comes across a tough woman will ask himself, ‘Can a man marry a man?"
In the final analysis, Christian women are admonished to be a strong but not a tough woman.
Remain
restored
Copyright © 2010 Victor A. Aduwa
All rights reserved
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