Colossians 3:18-25; Ephesians 5:25-33 – Love
If the Christian wife is to be submissive to her husband, the Christian husband has the solemn obligation to love his wife. It may seem a strange thing to speak of love as an obligation, especially when the word love is used so often to refer to a romantic kind of emotion that can fluctuate with circumstances, but the concept of love that the apostle is thinking of is that which he articulated in 1 Corinthians ch. 13.
The husband is to love his wife ‘as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her’ Eph. 5:25. When a husband realises just what the Lord Jesus Christ did for his salvation, and how He gave Himself for such an unworthy sinner, he will begin to understand what it means for him to ‘give himself’ for his wife.
There can be no sense of superiority nor of harshness in his treatment of his wife; there will rather, be understanding, consideration and honour 1 Peter 3:7. The true meaning of love is the desire to put the welfare of the other person before our own and to consider their interests as being as equally important as our own.
In a faithful Christian home, where love is demonstrated by the husband for his wife, there will be no problem of submission on the part of the wife. It may be that final decisions on important issues will be taken by the head of the house, but it would be a foolish and unchristian man who did not discuss it with his wife and come to a joint decision.
Where there is love and submission, there is a home that glorifies God and it will be a vibrant testimony to those who come within its borders.
Questions
- How is a husband to treat his wife?
Prayer Points
- Pray for the preaching and hearing of God’s Word tomorrow.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.