A NEWSLETTER FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE GREENWOOD CHURCH OF CHRIST

VOLUME 2 NO. 40                                        November 20, 2005

HUSBANDS--LOVE YOUR WIVES!

STEVE NIEMEIER

This statement by Paul in Ephesians 5:25 is a statement that carries the success of a marriage behind it.  Paul is contrasting a husband's love with that of Christ for His church.  Just one of the amazing parts of the love Paul states a husband is to have for his wife is that a husband would give his life for his wife just as Christ gave His life for His church.

Most of the time those of us that are husbands want to spend more time in verse 22 of Ephesians 5.  This is where Paul instructs wives to submit to your own husband.  What most husbands fail to remember is that Christ loved and cared for His church (His bride) in a way that the church could have nothing but deep respect and adoration for Him.  The church KNOWS that He loves her!  Unfortunately, this does not keep some individuals and even congregations of His church from violating the relationship with Christ.  Revelation chapters 2 and 3 give us information about some of those individuals and congregations.

Husbands we are to hold our wives in high esteem and we are to be the leader that they respect and want to follow.  Also, we are to be the “cleanser” of the family (Eph. 5:25-27) by keeping our household pure and unblemished.  We do this by putting God first in our household (Matt. 6:33) and centering all of our activities, dress, speech, entertainment, etc. on His will and not our own wills.  Gathering the family to study together, pray together, eat together, talk together, learn together and socialize together are all in the realms of the husband setting the “tone” for the family.

Loving the wife that you asked to marry you and spend her only physical life as your wife is something that should come easy yet it seems at times so difficult.  Yes, we all change as time and age set in.  The wife of our youth becomes the mother of our children and the grandmother of our grandchildren.  Her size and shape may not be the same as when we first “fell” for her (needless to say the husband's size and shape has probably changed also).  However, our love and respect for her should have grown to a more mature and appreciative love.

Husbands do you still open the door for your wife?  Do you still tell her you love her?  Do you still hold her in high esteem because she is YOUR WIFE?  When is the last time you took her on a “date”?  When is the last time you “mailed her a card” to say how much you appreciate her?  Have you recently just given her flowers for no reason?

Life is short!  Children grow up quick.  Years go by and husbands and wives grow apart.  Children sometimes are neglected because husbands and wives just don't get along and create an atmosphere in the home that is contentious.  The children are affected by this and when they get married they have the opinion that this is how a household is to be.  This is sad!

Husbands please remember that having you wife work outside the home to the neglect of your children just to enjoy the toys of this world is foolish.  Take control of you household with love.  Love for the Lord first and for your wife and children second.  There is no job more important than God's plan for the family.  Wives talk with your husbands about your role to assist him.  Husbands and wives start “courting” again --- your family depends on it and most importantly your soul depends on it.