For example, Ephesians 5:22-24 says: "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." (See Genesis 3:16; 1 Peter 3:1-6.)
However, there would be far fewer unhappy women in the world if men would also honor the Bible teaching about how we should use our authority. Ephesians 5:25 says: "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it." God did not say that men could just do as they please with their authority. The husband's authority is a God-given responsibility to be used for the good of the family. Jesus does not rule selfishly over the church; He rules for our good. Men, do you show love for your wives as Christ shows love for the church?
For example, should a husband discuss decisions with his wife and listen to her ideas? Well, does God listen to the desires of the church regarding His decisions? Of course, He does! Isn't prayer our way of telling God what we want, and doesn't God promise to listen to prayer? Yes, God will make the final decision according to what He knows is best, even if it is not what we want; but He considers what we want. So ought men to love their wives.
Furthermore, men, are you patient and forgiving toward your wives? Do you sit down calmly and discuss problems, or do you become bitter and launch a personal tirade? Colossians 3:19 says: "Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them." Surely Jesus loved us enough to be patient and forgiving toward us.
Do we love our wives as Jesus loved us?
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(c) Copyright David E. Pratte, 2015; gospelway.com
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Scripture quotations are generally from the New King James Version (NKJV), copyright 1982, 1988 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. used by permission. All rights reserved.