Day 35: My Role in the Big Picture

Scripture Focus: 1 Corinthians 11:1-16

“Man was not created for the woman’s sake, but woman for the man’s sake.” —1 Corinthians 11:9, NASB

One of the nagging characteristics of fallen man (and woman!) is the tendency to elevate our personal ambitions, concerns, and future above all else. In this way, not only do we lose sight of the big picture, but in fact we become the big picture. What a mistake! And that’s why we must always remember that this life is not all about us.

In many ways our view of life is similar to that of the child who, when putting together a puzzle, places his entire focus on one puzzle piece. Many of us become so enamored with our colorful, one-dimensional puzzle piece that we begin to view the edges of this irregularly shaped piece of cardboard as the boundaries of the universe. We proudly think that the world evolves around us and that our puzzle piece is the big picture!

Sadly, we forget that we are merely one piece of the puzzle in God’s grand scheme of redemption, and that He is the One ordering the placement of each piece in His Big Picture!

For women who struggle with pride, 1 Corinthians 11:9 can be hard to swallow, especially if we are still struck by the idea that our puzzle piece is the necessary component for the universe. “What do you mean I was created for the man’s sake?!” we might say. Or our first reaction when reading this portion of Scripture may be to argue for a more prominent position or at least to say, “Hey, couldn’t I just be created for my own sake? What does a man have to do with it?” If your reaction is something like that, perhaps it is time to take a humble step back before you offer your challenges and objections to God’s infallible Word.

Take Time to Reflect

Do you view individuals who serve in roles that require following their leader’s instructions as being less valuable than the leader? Do you find it difficult to honor authority? Slowly work through 1 Corinthians 11:1-16. (A good commentary is helpful when studying this passage.) Are there any things in this passage that you find offensive? Does this uncover any heart issues that you need to deal with? If so, why? Spend some time asking God to give you His honest evaluation. Over the next several weeks you may be tempted to give up or skip this devotional study. We hope you’ll persevere through this time of heart preparation. Ask God to reveal any areas in your life that may be hindering you in fulfilling your role as a biblical woman.

True Woman Wyoming Prayer Focus
Pray that God will soften the hearts of women who struggle with submission in their marriages.

Lift up the broken hearted women who have experienced loss of a spouse through divorce or death. Pray that the words of Scripture will be like a healing balm for wounds that go deep into the heart.