Lord, fill me up that I run over

 Am I a hidden treasure?  Do I try to somehow justify my existence or my actions because I don't understand the treasure that I am or could be?  What would it mean to be a hidden treasure?  

Titus 2:4-5 "That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste...." (KJV)

1 Peter 3:1-6 "Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; while they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.  Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be of the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.  For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: Whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement." (KJV)

To be in subjection to your own husbands.

To be modest and honorable in all things.  

Chaste conversation coupled with fear.

Adorning is not the outward adorning of plaiting the hair, gold jewelry and fine clothes.

Adorning that is of the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit.

What does this mean?  What in the world is Peter saying, and what does God really expect of me?  Is this new?  The reference to Sara reiterates that it is not.  It is not an old thing or a new thing, it does not become outdated as "culture" tries to say things have changed.... Man has not changed and woman has not changed: our desires are an important part of our survival.  God still makes each one.  (without going into the environmental factors that can affect formation in utero and out)

Genesis 1:27 "God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.  God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it."  Created in His image to Rule (live with order)...tend (care)...consume (reap the rewards and enjoy)...

He created boundaries, saying in 2:16 "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die." and with that need for shoulder to shoulder accountability he created woman, for "It is not good for the man to be alone.  I will make a helper suitable for him."

verse 24, "for this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.  The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame."

God created order.  The first order of the family would be that the man would rule, tend, and consume what God gave him.  Then God brought him his wife, saying that she would be a helper suitable for the need to remain within the boundaries He had given man.  Though God created woman by taking from Adam's flesh, they were to become one flesh- intimate in every way, caring for each other as if they were one.  

Ephesians 5:22 "Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.  For the husband is the head of the wife...as a savior.  Husbands, love your wives, giving of yourself to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself radiant, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.  Husbands love your wives as your own bodies.  He who loves his wife loves himself.  After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it.  This is a mystery, and can only be done as a man loves his wife as he loves himself and the woman respects her husband."

What if I truly consider that?  I am created for him, to help him navigate God's "job" for him.  Not to tell him what to do, but to give him the things he needs to be able to stay focused.  It is a mystery of how a man is driven to work, and humbly lay down the reward of his work before his other half, who could then honorably a-portion it.  A wise woman does this carefully, making sure to give back to her man first, care for her children, herself, and provide others with leftovers, with what she is able to multiply with her own gifts.  I think of taking a meal and making the leftovers into a soup for a neighbor in need.  Gathering vegetables from the garden, or making a bread to make it another meal.  In the same way we are to give back to God our first fruits, care for our family, and then in turn care for the needy.

As a woman, I am to always see that I have abundance.  I can take what I'm given and make more.  God created me to show Chris abundance.  That God leads him to the best provisions and his family is never lacking.  So how is it that sometimes that is not so true?  There's a break somewhere.  Perhaps it's in the lack of the woman's support so the man can level-up in provisions.  Perhaps it's because he's not doing his duty in listening to God.  But a woman is not rendered helpless, "For it is by her chaste submission to her husband, her behavior, that she would win him over to the Word, because he sees her purity and reverence to God and in turn her position." (Back to 1 Peter 3:1)

Lord, fill me up with Your Word, Your Truth, about me and your desire for me, so that I am always overflowing in my actions.