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Is the Father more valuable or intelligent than the Son? Is a man more valuable or intelligent than a woman? The obvious answer to these questions is no. The Father and Son are equal in every respect, but equality does not mean that there are no distinctions. The Son died on the cross, not the Father. Are men and women equal in value? Yes! The Bible takes a clear position on this issue. Both males and females were made in the image of God and are of equal value. Does equality mean they are identical? No. They have differences, but differences do not suggest deficiencies.

The biblical idea of man as the "head of his wife" (Ephesians 5:23) has perhaps been the most misused passage of the Bible. Christian husbands, full of self-will, have made all kinds of foolish demands of their wives. Yet headship does not mean dictatorship. When God indicates that the man is to lead the woman, He is simply establishing order for a relationship among equals, for a wife is the husband's "equal partner in God's gift of new life" (I Peter 3:7). Would the Father ever force the Son to do anything against His will? No! Would the Son ever walk off to "do His own thing" without consulting the Father? Unthinkable! We must seek to follow God's pattern for our marriages and relationships.

Take time to pray and ask:

Wives, as God to teach you the secrets of inner beauty, that you may live "pure and reverent lives" (I Peter 3:2-4);

Husbands, ask God to teach you how to treat your wife with love and humility and as an equal (see I Peter 3:7-8);

Ask God to help your marriage reflect His relationship with Jesus.

Take time to reflect:

Some Christians err too far on the side of headship, urging husbands to take too much power in a marriage. What is the danger of this position?

Other Christians error on the side of egalitarianism, suggesting that there are no differences between men and women. What is the danger of this position?

How doe the model of the Father/Son relationship play out in your marriage?

Consider these passages for further study on Equality;

Genesis 1:27 So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

Proverbs 30:4 Who but God goes up to heaven and comes back down? Who holds the wind in his fists? Who wraps the oceans in his cloak? Who has created the whole wide world? What is his name - and his son's name? Tell me if you know!

Galatians 3:26-29 For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God's promise to Abraham belongs to you.

These thoughts bring out the power issues that can come up in a relationship. We all share a role in how we want to be in a relationship in how we become a team and help each other grow. Take your strengths and weaknesses and realize the strengths and weaknesses of your partner to help each other grow with a true flow. Find more thoughts as you know each other's love language as Gary Chapman brings out.