Whose Prayers Answered?

[swathdiver]

A husband desires to move, his wife desires to stay.  They both pray and one day just enough money shows up in their household to move.  

 

Is the husband out of God's will but doesn't know it?  Is the wife out of God's will because she opposes her husband?

[HappyChristian]

There's a whole lot more to be considered than just what you've presented.  

[irishman]

This reminds me of watching our men play softball.  Both were church teams, and both often prayed to win the game!  I wonder how the Lord decides sometimes?  I believe He doesn't care who wins, it's worldly amusement, with a devotion thrown in to "decorate" it.

[Standing Firm In Christ]

1 Peter 3 may hold the key there.  It says wives are to be subject to, to obey, their husbands.

Now, I know that the context is speaking of saved wives and unsaved husbands, but does that really change things?  Is a saved wife to stop obeying her husband once he comes to faith in Christ? 

I don't believe so. 

If the wife knows the husband is praying to move, and the wife does not want to move, I would say instead of praying that they don't move, she should instead pray that God's will be done and that both will have the heart to accept God's will.

Of course, the husband, rather than praying to move, should also be praying for God's will to be done.

[John81]

The husband and wife should be praying for the Lord's direction in the matter. They should not be praying that their will be done, but rather that God would make His will clear to them and that they would abide by it.

 

The couple should be careful not to make the matter one of his way or her way, but should rather come together, share what they think, and then pray together that the Lord's will be done.

 

In this, while looking for the Lord's answer, the couple needs to be careful they are truly looking for the Lord's answer (which means they need to be examining their heart) and not looking for some sign that could be used to back their wishes.

 

As LuAnne said, there are a whole lot more things that need to be considered here.

[Anon]

SFIC, smile! I agree with you! ;-)

But seriously yeah...more info. It could be, in fact, neither are right with God enough to get answers. And the money may or may not be related to the prayers.

My mom had the attitude, when she was living, that sometimes if she did not agree with my dads decisions ( and she would have a Biblical basis) she would pray that God would change his heart. God changed his heart more than she ever could!

A good prayer for the wife would be for God to keep her husband in His will and prevent him from taking a wrong step.

[swathdiver]

What more should be presented?

[Pastor Scott Markle]

A husband desires to move, his wife desires to stay.  They both pray and one day just enough money shows up in their household to move.  

 

Is the husband out of God's will but doesn't know it?  Is the wife out of God's will because she opposes her husband?

 

 

What more should be presented?

 

Brother "Swathdiver,"

 

I would agree with previous posters who have indicated that more information is needed to answer your questions aright.  As a pastor, I myself would not offer pastoral counsel concerning your original questions without first seeking for the following:

 

1.  What are the reasons that the husband desires to move?

2.  What are the reasons that the wife desires not to move?

 

Although moving or not moving are mutually exclusive of one another as decisions, it is yet possible that both the husband and the wife are "out of God's will" in their respective motivations.  In particular, I would be seeking to discern whether their respective reasons are spiritually motivated (of the Spirit, for the glory of God) or selfishly motivated (of the flesh, for the pleasures of self).

[JerryNumbers]

Though doors may seem to open up done not necessary mean its the right thing to do. As others have stated there would be much to consider.

[DaveW]

In the particular situation you posted there is much to consider which is external to either of them.
just as a "for instance", is there a good independent bible preaching church in the prospective area?
If there isn't, and they are not going with the intent of starting one, then I would seriously doubt that it is God's will they move there.

[swathdiver]

 

1.  What are the reasons that the husband desires to move?

2.  What are the reasons that the wife desires not to move?

 

This is a hypothetical.

 

Both are saved and the family holds membership in an IFB church.

 

So let's say the husband wishes to move because he cannot make ends meet.  The Bible says he's supposed to provide and he's failing to do so.  He's prayed about it and is at peace with the decision.  The new found money tells him that the Lord provided it so he could move and better provide for his family.  The new town has a sound IFB church. 

 

Let's say the wife then desires to stay because she doesn't want to uproot the children and leave her church family.  Their children are doing well in school and have many friends.  She too prayed and believes the new found money that the Lord provided was in answer to her prayer to stay another year.

 

This is a what iffer so feel free to add to the scenario if need be.

[HappyChristian]

This is a hypothetical.

 

Both are saved and the family holds membership in an IFB church.

 

So let's say the husband wishes to move because he cannot make ends meet.  The Bible says he's supposed to provide and he's failing to do so.  He's prayed about it and is at peace with the decision.  The new found money tells him that the Lord provided it so he could move and better provide for his family.  The new town has a sound IFB church. 

 

Let's say the wife then desires to stay because she doesn't want to uproot the children and leave her church family.  Their children are doing well in school and have many friends.  She too prayed and believes the new found money that the Lord provided was in answer to her prayer to stay another year.

 

This is a what iffer so feel free to add to the scenario if need be.

In this case, there is actually no other answer than this: While the Lord does speak to wives, He leads husbands as to how the hubby is to lead his family.  The wife's desires are natural, actually - most women want to stay put.  But if she is truly following the Lord, she would be willing to go where her hubby believes God is leading the family (and she would do it with a good spirit, too... )

[John81]

Such a case would call for patience, and hopefully the couple praying together, waiting for clear direction, and neither rushing or trying to push their interpretation of the money.

[HappyChristian]

 

Such a case would call for patience, and hopefully the couple praying together, waiting for clear direction, and neither rushing or trying to push their interpretation of the money.

 

I would agree to a point there, but there comes a time in every case where the wife simply needs to let go and trust her hubby and trust that God is indeed leading him.  If they are both truly seeking God's will, that would be the outcome.

[JerryNumbers]

 

Such a case would call for patience, and hopefully the couple praying together, waiting for clear direction, and neither rushing or trying to push their interpretation of the money.

 

 

100 % true, & there is no way for us to say, for none of us has ALL the inside information, & we would have to have ALL of the inside information in order to make a decision of what would be right or wrong.

 

So any speculation saying the husband & or wife is wrong is just pure speculation.

 

Yet most move for the money never considering their spiritual life & how it may effect their wife & children.