Ephesians 5: 26 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.
Ephesians 5:33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband
With the rising numbers in Dysfunctional marriages, Domestic violence and mariticide, The question has always been, what are we doing wrong? What happens to the vows made during the wedding day and even promises made during courtship? Is it that there is too much expectations that go un met once people settle? Or are we putting our youth under too much pressure to settle until they miss out at the basic principles of marriage only to end up in imbalanced love relationships? What does God say about Love and marriage?
Paul speaking to the Ephesians in Chapter 5:25 says “Husbands,
love your wives as Christ Loved the church…” Now, The love of Christ towards
the church was unconditional and sacrificial. He gave His life as a ramson for
her(Church) sins. The church was not perfect or righteous to receive the
love of Christ. Actually, it was in a very sorry state, But either way, He died
on the cross for Her. Romans 5:8 says “But God demonstrates his
own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Christ Love to the church is an example of how husbands should love their
wives. It is the duty of husbands to love their wives Sacrificially with
sincere, pure love irrespective of their imperfections and failures. Husbands ought to love their
wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.(Vs 28)why? because the two shall become one.
Ephesians 5:33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself… This one is a command, it is not an option. Husbands must Love their wives just as they Love themselves.
Ephesians 5:26-27 says “to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. This gives the reason as to why Christ Loved the church, to remove guilt and power of sin that leads to death. That He may present her to Himself and prepare the church as the bride of Christ for His second coming and marriage of the lamb. This is the same desire that husbands should have towards their wives, to Love and protect them, to raise generations after them to God’s perfect will, walking together in unity and Love thus conquering the world.
Ephesians 5:23 clearly indicates that husbands are the leaders in the families.it says “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.” There are critical roles they need to take :
- Priest- appearing before God interceding and offering sacrifices on behalf of their families.
- Prophet-Teaching the family God’s word and Communicating His will in their lives.Prophesying over their lives. Speaking what you desire them to become.
- Provider: Providing for the family financial, physical and emotional needs
- Protector- Protecting your family from burdens they need not carry, abuse, bad company and wrong doctrines
- Promoter- being their number one fun, building their self-esteem and hence commanding respect over their lives.
When Husbands neglect their leadership role in the family, there must be a crisis.
Now, In Ephesians 5:24 Wives are called to
submit to their own husbands in everything as unto the Lord. This is a call to
obey their husbands in the same manner the bride of Christ obeys Him. This also
entails honoring and respecting their husbands as leaders in the families. Submission
is not a sign of weakness or foolishness, it is a sign of strength. Wives
should develop an attitude with the intention to have peaceful and fulfilling marriage.
Wives were created by God to be suitable helpers in Genesis 2:18. Wives, Twice, the bible warns against being quarrelsome: Proverbs 21:9 and Proverbs 25:24 says Better to live on a corner
of the roof than share a house with a
quarrelsome wife. (the wiseman must have known that wives are capable of being quarrelsome and naggingg or may be had experience due to the many wives he had hehee😀😀😀 ). Submission
is a a duty to all wives. Remember, wise woman builds her house (You know Abigael, who was married to a fool?😀 ), but
with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down, Proverbs 14:1
Marriage the Lords way: Love and submission are key ingredients. Husbands to Love their wives as Christ loved the Church, wives to submit to their husbands as unto Christ, and Then, submit to one another in reverence to Christ as guided by Ephesians 5:21
Each should play their roles without waiting and watching on the other. Laying down individual pride and ego and going first makes none a weakling but is a sign of determination towards making the marriage work.
Do you Love her as Christ Loves the Church? With her imperfections and shortcomings?
Do you submit to Him as the head of the family?
Do you submit to one another?
Laura B Ponders
You can visit my poetry corner.... https://laurabettiepoetry.blogspot.com/
