The Ideal Husband - Part 2

• What should be the degree of a husband's affection for his wife?
• Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. (Eph 5:33)
• So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. (Eph 5:28)

• In addition to bestowing his love upon his wife, what honour should the husband give to her?
• Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered. (1Pe 3:7)

I find it interesting, that if I as a husband do not honour my wife ,and show her understanding, my prayers will be hindered by my attitude, and demeanour.

• What responsibility has the husband to his wife and to his household?
• Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. (1Co 7:3)
• But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. (1Ti 5:8)

• What blessings does God promise to a Godly husband?
• Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine In the very heart of your house, Your children like olive plants All around your table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed Who fears the LORD. (Psa 128:3-4)
• Yes, may you see your children's children. Peace be upon Israel! (Psa 128:6)

Paul lays down the basis for happy wedded life in the words – “Wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them”. Perhaps these instructions are not always well understood. Sometimes one of verses, and sometimes the other, is unduly emphasised.

Some men insist upon the first – “Wives, be in subjection to your husbands.” They interpret the words somewhat harshly, as if a wife were to be only as a servant to her husband, whose duty is to minister to his desires, to please him, to run at his every call and command. But it is not a Christian teaching.

In some older marriage services the words 'to love, honour and obey' as vows that are taken. It is to be particularly noted that Paul nowhere says – “Wives, obey your husbands.” In another place, where Paul gives another instruction, his words are – “Wives be in subjection unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is head of the Church”. No doubt the husband is the head of the household; but what a responsibility this teaching puts upon him! His wife is to be in subjection to him, “as unto the Lord.” He is to be to her what Christ is to the Church.

If a man will insist on his wife fulfilling her part, he must also insist on honestly fulfilling his own part, – all the sacred duties which are his as a husband. What, then, is the husband’s share in this happy home making? “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church, and gave Himself up for it”. A husband is to love his wife. Is love despotic? Does love put its object in a servant’s place? No; love serves. It seeks not its own. It desires “not to be served, but to serve.” It does not demand attention, deference, service, subjection. It seeks rather to serve, to give, to honor.

Finally .................................. a thought for today

Looking for perfection in a man? Look to Jesus.