Don’t trust your husband!

391. …..We imagine such expositors would have been pleased had God sent into the world, an additional female Christ, to set women a female example; but since God did not see fit to do so, women are under obligation to endeavor, as best they are able, to follow the “manly” example of Jesus Christ, and leave the consequences with God. This is woman’s truly humble place. Any other is sham humility.

392. What was Christ’s attitude toward man, seeing HE ALONE is woman’s pattern? John 2:23-25 tells us plainly: “Many believed in His name, when they saw the miracles which He did. But Jesus did not commit Himself unto them, because He knew all men, and needed not that any should testify of man: for He knew what was in man.” Let women do the same; they have here a very safe example to follow. What we know of “trust” in man must not go so far as to include the vitiation of our surrender to GOD ALONE. “What! a woman not trust her husband! Why, every husband loves a trusting wife; let her lean all her weight upon him. This is ideal marriage; any less trust than this will bring discord into the family.” Possibly it will; in some cases, the husband may quarrel with his wife unless she trusts him to this idolatrous extent. A trust that must be exercised towards a husband, who threatens discord otherwise, is of the world’s own kind. The Lord Himself said, “I came not to send peace, but a sword.” We believe that family concord can be better preserved apart from a trust on the part of the wife which amounts to idolatry of her husband; but if not, let discord prevail: at least, leave the result of absolute surrender to God alone in the hands of Him who requires it of every human being.

393. There is a “trust” of which one can properly approve,¾a reciprocal tie and duty between husband and wife. But this matter of the surrender of one’s entire person and conscience to the keeping of another human being is idolatry,¾a deadly sin against God. Love does not require it. Never man loved as Christ; never man trusted himself to man less than Christ did. The more He surrendered Himself to God, the more humble He was; and the less He committed Himself to man. Mark how He kept His conduct free from all human influences.