IMG_6500rShe does him good and not evil all the days of her life.
—Proverbs 31:12

Greg was standing at the bottom of the stairs and called, “Cathe, can you come here; I need your help.”

I was upstairs and busy with something . . . not something urgent, mind you, just the usual straightening up or putting away. Trying to be heard without sounding, well, put out, I answered back, “In just a second.”

But honestly, there was this little irk I felt rising up inside. That simple request got me thinking about what it means to be a helper.

In Genesis 2:18 we read, “And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” Here we see how in the beginning, God designed the role for us women to be helpers. Eve was created and perfectly suited to Adam’s needs (and he for hers, but that is an important study for another time).

Some Bible translations give us different words that help shed more light on this concept of what a helper is. Eve was made a helper suitable for him (NIV); a helper suitable, adaptable, complementary, for him (AMPLIFIED); a helper fit for him (ESV); a suitable partner for him (CEV).

Wow, I have to ask myself, have I been all that I should be to Greg? Am I a helper suitable, adaptable, complementary, fit for his needs?

The Hebrew word for helper is azor. It came as a bit of a revelation to me when I learned that this word is most frequently spoken of God.

Behold, God is mine helper. (Psalm 54:4 KJV)

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. (Psalm 121:1-2 KJV)

What a different perspective we gain when we keep in mind that God is our Helper. He’s not my slave, He is my Helper. If I keep that in mind, how can I ever feel that my role as helper is demeaning? After researching this, I happen to like the title helper after all.

Let me explain: Jesus, the second person of the Triune Godhead, didn’t consider it beneath him to humble Himself and become a Servant. Now, if it is not a slight to the dignity of Jesus to say he was subordinate to His Father’s will, how can it be a slight to my dignity to willingly be subordinate to my husband?

Here is another way I like to look at it. It was a mark of greatness that Christ willingly submitted to the Father’s will. As a result, His name is exalted above every name in heaven and earth. I didn’t write this script, but wow, I get the opportunity to play the part of Jesus!

Girls, when we delight to serve, to love, and to give of ourselves, we are allowing His likeness to shine in our lives. Jesus never abandoned his power, but at His expense He used it for our good. That is not to say we are doormats to be taken advantage of or ever abused. Our submission to our husbands is a gift.

So the next time your husband says, “Dear, will you iron this shirt for me?” . . . or whatever his reasonable request may be, think of it as an opportunity to serve like Jesus served, not by abandoning power but instead but using it for our husband’s good.