While getting married takes only a few minutes, being a good husband takes a lifetime. God places a premium on a husband’s role, and Paul emphasized that fact by giving the Ephesian men a short course in being better husbands. Reference Ephesians 5:22-33.
Unfortunately, some men and women who read Ephesians 5:22-33:“22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body. 31 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.” get sidetracked On Paul’s instructions concerning wives’ responsibility to submit to their husbands. Such people make the critical mistake of overlooking verse 21: “21Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” Marriage requires mutual submission, an attitude that doesn’t always come naturally.
It’s in that context that Paul tells husbands they’re to provide their wives with leadership. Not a heavy-handed, overbearing, “I’m the boss!” kind of leadership. But the kind of leadership Christ exercises over the church - servant leadership; Philippians 2:3-11, 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! 9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. This powerful image shows the measure of commitment that God requires of husbands (that‘s me and you brother). As Christ gave his life for the church, so husbands are to give their lives for their wives and are to always put their wives needs before their own. In the context of such leadership, following the head can become a delight.
Godly leadership begins with a servant’s heart. That servant attitude runs the length from the daily issues of basic housework and child care, to major issues such as seeking her opinion first when new opportunities arise. Take a minute to reread this passage and think of some specific, concrete ways you can be a servant to your wife today. Determine that, by the grace of God, your love for her will emulate Christ’s complete and sacrificial love for the church.
I want to encourage you to be all the man, husband and father God has called you to be. It’s time for a change in your attitude, change in your marriage, change in your house. I’m praying for men all over today for this to take place. Let me know that you will do the same. I look forward to hearing from you.
May God bless you,
Jose Reyes, Sr. Pastor
The Lord's Field Ministry
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