Discovery Leadership Masterclass Series with Frank Adu Anim: The corporate household (1): She will be called a W.I.F.E of submission and a helper

(A Faith-Based Leadership article on Marriage, Purpose, and Divine Partnership)

Marriage, in its divine design, is more than a legal contract or a social arrangement; for it is a sacred covenant, a divine institution ordained by God to reflect His glory, governance and love. Scripture tells us in Genesis 2:18: “And the Lord God said, it is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.”

From the very beginning, God recognized that man alone could not fully reflect the intended image of God in relational stewardship. A woman was brought not merely as a companion, but as a helper, a partner in the divine enterprise of stewardship, governance and love. This sets the foundation for the concept of the corporate household, a home run on the principles of leadership, responsibility, vision and spiritual alignment, where each member has clearly defined roles, yet mutual respect, intimacy and partnership are central.

The modern household we see often struggles under the weight of responsibility without intimacy, duty without delight and survival without vision. Too many marriages these days are burdened with transactional roles, where duties are fulfilled mechanically, love is assumed rather than cultivated and respect is demanded rather than demonstrated. 1 Corinthians 13:1–3 reminds us: “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal… and have not charity, I am nothing.”

God’s model for the household is one of balance, mutual edification and divine purpose. Even if responsibilities are executed flawlessly, a marriage without love, intimacy and respect is spiritually barren. A woman may fulfill her physiological or domestic roles, but she does not yet embody the biblical definition of a wife. True wifehood involves partnership in vision, influence and covenantal stewardship.

The injustice lies in expecting marriages to survive on duty alone while denying the relational and spiritual depth that intimacy and mutual respect provide. Marriage is not meant to be a transactional contract; it is a covenant designed for co-laboring, flourishing and Kingdom impact.

To emphasis on this, let me mention that the biblical concept of a wife extends far beyond the domestic. In Proverbs 31:10–31, we see a model for a woman who is industrious, wise and spiritually grounded: “Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeketh wool and flax and worketh willingly with her hands. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.”

From this passage, we derive the essential attributes of the W.I.F.E:

Woman

The foundation is her God-given identity as a woman, rooted in virtue, compassion and strength. She understands the sacredness of her role, not merely for personal fulfillment but for the edification of the household. Indeed, her physiological make up qualifies her as a Woman but not necessarily a W.I.F.E unless she adds to being a woman….

Intelligence

Intelligence here is not only academic or professional but also spiritual and relational. A W.I.F.E discerns, counsels, and applies wisdom in decisions affecting the family. Proverbs 14:1 declares “The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish pulls it down with her own hands. ”Besides being intelligent, she must be faithful.

Faithful

Faithfulness encompasses loyalty, trustworthiness and steadfastness in her commitments. Her faithfulness mirrors God’s covenantal faithfulness to His people. As in Ruth 1:16–17: “Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.”

Enterprising

An enterprising W.I.F.E ought to be proactive, industrious and solution-oriented. She must seek to contribute positively, create value and drive growth that is spiritually, relationally and even financially. She must not remain passive but actively engages in building a flourishing household. An enterprising W.I.F.E is thus a holistic partner: a woman of depth, insight and vision who balances grace with initiative.

The Corporate Household and the Divine Order

The twist is this, instead of viewing the household solely as a space of duty, I reframe the home as a Kingdom enterprise, where every marriage is a mini-corporation of divine purpose. In this paradigm, the Wife as Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) is not just a helper in chores but a visionary co-leader, shaping long-term spiritual, relational and economic strategy for the household. Her intelligence, faithfulness, and enterprise are the tools she uses to anticipate challenges, manage resources and innovate solutions much like a CSO in a thriving company.

The Marriage Household as a Governance Model

Viewing marriage just as corporations operate under governance frameworks, households operate under God’s divine law. Decisions, conflict resolution and vision execution are not left to chance but guided by principles of wisdom, respect and accountability. Submission is reframed as alignment to divine governance, enabling the household to thrive rather than merely survive.

The Household as a Platform for Kingdom Impact

In the household is a microcosm of God’s kingdom. When the W.I.F.E exercises her role fully, the impact extends beyond her walls thereby shaping communities, mentoring others and demonstrating Godly leadership in practical and observable ways. Here the wife becomes a multiplier of influence and not just a caretaker of responsibilities.

Intimacy and Love in the Household as Strategic Capital

Love, respect, and intimacy in the household are not just emotional by-products; they are strategic capital for the household. Just as companies invest in culture to ensure productivity and loyalty, investment in the household in relation to love, respect and intimacy are worth important capital which drive an enduring spiritual, emotional and social impact.

The Corporate Parallel: Marriage as a Leadership Model

The household is, in essence, a microcosm of organizational leadership. Just as a corporation functions optimally with vision, defined roles, accountability and innovation, so does the home. Consider the following parallels:

Vision Alignment – The husband and wife must share a common vision for the household. Proverbs 29:18 reminds us: “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”

Role Clarity – Each partner understands their God-given roles. The husband leads spiritually, while the wife executes, advises and complements leadership.

Mutual Accountability – Just as boards of Directors support and review corporate performance, spouses provide counsel, encouragement and correction in love.

Innovation and Enterprise – A W.I.F.E brings creativity, resourcefulness and initiative, ensuring the household adapts to changing circumstances.

Sustainability – Like a corporation, a marriage must cultivate long-term stability through faithfulness, love, and stewardship of resources. In the corporate household, marriage becomes both a sacred covenant and a leadership laboratory, where godly principles are operationalized for eternal impact.

When too much Responsibility Overshadow Intimacy: The Injustice within Marriage

It is a tragic reality that many marriages survive solely on responsibility, as if the union is sustained by a checklist of chores and obligations. When the elements of intimacy, love and respect are absent, a household becomes a corporate entity stripped of its humanity and the marriage loses its soul. As Scripture reminds us in 1 Corinthians 13:1–3: “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge; and though I have all faith… and have not charity, I am nothing.”

Even if responsibilities are meticulously executed, without love, the heart of covenantal relationships, the home lacks life. A woman, therefore, may fulfill her physiological role as a partner, but without the grounding in intelligence, faithfulness and enterprise, she may not fully embody the biblical definition of a wife.

A true wife is not merely a caretaker of tasks; she is a partner in vision, a co-leader in stewardship and a vessel of God’s blessing in the household. The injustice lies in expecting marriage to endure on duty alone while denying the relational, spiritual and strategic depth that intimacy, respect and love bring.

Submission as a Power of Divine Alignment

Submission is one of the most misunderstood principles in contemporary discourse on marriage. Many equate submission with weakness, oppression, or inequality. Yet, scripture presents submission as divine alignment and empowerment within God’s order. In Ephesians 5:22–24, Paul writes: “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.”

Submission does not diminish a woman’s intelligence, enterprise, or faithfulness. Rather, it amplifies the effectiveness of partnership by aligning household leadership with God’s ordained structure. It is not blind compliance but a conscious choice to honor God through respect, cooperation and unity.

Again, Submission is an act of strategic obedience which allows the marriage to operate like a well-run corporation which vision is unified, roles are respected and the outcome benefits the collective good of the family. Here in the corporate household, a wife’s submission is a leadership tool, not a liability.

Submission as Strength, Not Subjugation

By reframing submission as strategic alignment, the narrative challenges modern misconceptions. The wife’s choice to submit under God’s order is an act of intentional power, enabling her husband to lead the household to operate cohesively, effectively and for God’s vision to manifest tangibly.

She is the Helper: God’s Leadership Blueprint in the Home

The word “helper” in Genesis 2:18 is translated from the Hebrew ezer, which implies strength, assistance, and active partnership. This is not a term of inferiority. Scripture elsewhere describes God Himself as our helper (Psalm 54:4): “Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.” The woman, therefore, reflects God’s strength and wisdom in the home. She complements her husband’s leadership with insight, discernment and encouragement. She is the operational strategist, the relational architect and the emotional anchor of the household.

Indeed, a true helper anticipates needs, offers solutions and strengthens her husband’s capacity to lead effectively. She balances respect and counsel, providing accountability in love. The corporate household thrives when the wife embraces her role as a helper not passively, but proactively, modeling Christlike leadership.

Emotional and Spiritual Intelligence in the Household

An intelligent W.I.F.E exercises not only intellectual intelligence but also emotional and spiritual intelligence. Emotional intelligence allows her to navigate relational complexities, respond with empathy, and foster harmony. Her spiritual intelligence enables her to take decisions that are aligned with God’s Word, seeking His guidance all matters.

Galatians 5:22–23 highlights more on the fruits of the Spirit, which are the ultimate indicators of relational intelligence: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” A woman who embodies these qualities does not merely maintain the household; she transforms it into a sanctuary of peace, vision and divine productivity.

Her Faithfulness and Enterprising Conduct: The Economics of the Covenant Home

When I speak about Faithfulness, I extend it beyond loyalty to encompass stewardship of time, resources and influence. A W.I.F.E who is enterprising uses her gifts to contribute to the household’s spiritual, relational and financial well-being. Proverbs 31:16 illustrates this: “She considereth a field and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.”

A Faithfully enterprising W.I.F.E will ensure the household is not passively in growth. She proactively engages in opportunities that bless not only the family but the community, modeling kingdom-oriented leadership.

Mutual Respect and Vision in the Household

Respect which is the lubricant that ensures marital and household machinery runs smoothly requires the ingredient of Submission. However, submission without respect leads to oppression likewise leadership without humility a recipe for breeding discord. Ephesians 5:33 exhorts: “Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.” The corporate household thrives when mutual respect undergirds vision and strategy. The W.I.F.E supports, complements and challenges constructively, ensuring the household fulfills its divine purpose.

In conclusion however, in order to restore the dignity and purpose of the W.I.F.E, the corporate household, as God designed it must operate not as a hierarchy of oppression but a symphony of partnership, stewardship and divine purpose. A woman called to be a W.I.F.E must necessarily embody Womanhood, Intelligence, Faithfulness and Enterprising, the core ingredients that define the wife as a helper, a co-leader and a vessel of God’s blessing.

Much more, it must be understood that submission, far from being weakness will ensure and provide the strategic alignment needed to keep the household functional and in order. Together, the husband and wife ought to model Christ and the Church, demonstrating to the world the transformative power of covenantal partnership. Therefore, let every woman embrace her divine calling as a W.I.F.E in the household to reflect God’s glory which flourishes with faith, leadership and love intersect.

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Discovery….Thinking solutions, shaping visions.

Frank  is the CEO and Strategic Partner of AQUABEV Investment and Discovery Consulting Group. He is an Executive Director and the Lead Coach in Leadership Development and best Business Management practices for Discovery Leadership Masterclass.

Email: [email protected] or [email protected]

Tel: 233-0241824033/ 233-0501324604

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