Ephesians 5: 22 "Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord."
Ah, the ever infamous ‘obey’ verse. Yes the one that men have used for centuries to dominate their wives. The one that raises the ire of women every where. Why is this?
The answer is simple. Its because people sometimes only read what they want, then ignore the rest. The fact is, the wife’s responsibility is small and very easy to do. That is IF we as husbands read and follow the rest of the passage starting one verse earlier with:
21and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.
Wives aren’t only to be subject to their husbands, but husbands to their wives as well. BOTH are to do this in a relationship. However, this only makes the duties of husbands and wives to each other, equal. The truth in the scripture that follows, shows the husband/wife relationship is not to be equal. Let’s read verses 25- 32:
"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body."
This is a two part command. The second is the easier. Husbands are to love their wives as they love themselves. This means as we take care of ourselves, so are we to take care of the ladies in our lives. We make sure we are fed, entertained, kept safe from harm, have room to grow and be who we are.
1 Corinthians 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?
We are to treat our bodies as they are God’s temple. We are to maintain it to a level worthy for Him to reside. So too are we to provide for our loved ones. But like I said, this is the easy part.
I say that part is ‘easy’, not because it isn’t a big task, but because the other part is impossible. Husbands are told “love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church”. If that doesn’t instill a sense of a task of unheard of proportions in you, then think what that means.
Just as Christ loved the church – how did Christ love the church? What did He do for His bride? Lets see…
Christ loved His bride unconditionally. He spent every moment of His life helping her, guiding her that SHE may prosper and grow. He spent nothing on Himself until she was taken care of. He was beaten to protect her. When others even spoke against her, He stood up boldly for her even to the point of being stoned for it. When she was weak He cried for her and pleaded for God to help her. When she was hurt, He nourished and healed her. When she was lost, He educated her, taught her about God and guided her back to righteousness. When she was unsure of herself and her future, He strengthened and encouraged her.
Christ’s love for her never wavered; not for an instant. He never doubted her, never mistrusted her or was jealous of her. He never spoke against her but always praised her. He never held her back, never put her down or made her feel less than everything to Him. He never betrayed her, never even looked at another, His heart totally belonged to her and her alone. She was His cherished one, His joy and for whom He lived His life.
When she didn’t believe in Him, He prayed unceasingly for her. When she betrayed Him, He stood by her. When she turned her back on Him, He paved the way for her. He never, EVER gave up on her. And in the end, when she was beyond hope, He gave Himself up to beating, torture and the most excruciating death the Romans could muster to save her.
Husbands, this IS YOUR command. Not a suggestion, but Christ’s instruction to you. Yes, I said its impossible, but it remains your duty to fulfill and every moment, we must press on towards fulfilling the model Christ left for us. Our journey is never complete until we are everything to her, that Christ was, and is to the church.
Wives, do you think you could submit yourself to a man such as this as he also submits himself to you? Husbands, ARE you this man?
In His service... Arthur Smith
In His Service… Arthur Smith
Ephesians 5: 22 "Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord."
Ah, the ever infamous ‘obey’ verse. Yes the one that men have used for centuries to dominate their wives. The one that raises the ire of women every where. Why is this?
The answer is simple. Its because people sometimes only read what they want, then ignore the rest. The fact is, the wife’s responsibility is small and very easy to do. That is IF we as husbands read and follow the rest of the passage starting one verse earlier with:
21and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.
Wives aren’t only to be subject to their husbands, but husbands to their wives as well. BOTH are to do this in a relationship. However, this only makes the duties of husbands and wives to each other, equal. The truth in the scripture that follows, shows the husband/wife relationship is not to be equal. Let’s read verses 25- 32:
"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body."
This is a two part command. The second is the easier. Husbands are to love their wives as they love themselves. This means as we take care of ourselves, so are we to take care of the ladies in our lives. We make sure we are fed, entertained, kept safe from harm, have room to grow and be who we are.
1 Corinthians 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?
We are to treat our bodies as they are God’s temple. We are to maintain it to a level worthy for Him to reside. So too are we to provide for our loved ones. But like I said, this is the easy part.
I say that part is ‘easy’, not because it isn’t a big task, but because the other part is impossible. Husbands are told “love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church”. If that doesn’t instill a sense of a task of unheard of proportions in you, then think what that means.
Just as Christ loved the church – how did Christ love the church? What did He do for His bride? Lets see…
Christ loved His bride unconditionally. He spent every moment of His life helping her, guiding her that SHE may prosper and grow. He spent nothing on Himself until she was taken care of. He was beaten to protect her. When others even spoke against her, He stood up boldly for her even to the point of being stoned for it. When she was weak He cried for her and pleaded for God to help her. When she was hurt, He nourished and healed her. When she was lost, He educated her, taught her about God and guided her back to righteousness. When she was unsure of herself and her future, He strengthened and encouraged her.
Christ’s love for her never wavered; not for an instant. He never doubted her, never mistrusted her or was jealous of her. He never spoke against her but always praised her. He never held her back, never put her down or made her feel less than everything to Him. He never betrayed her, never even looked at another, His heart totally belonged to her and her alone. She was His cherished one, His joy and for whom He lived His life.
When she didn’t believe in Him, He prayed unceasingly for her. When she betrayed Him, He stood by her. When she turned her back on Him, He paved the way for her. He never, EVER gave up on her. And in the end, when she was beyond hope, He gave Himself up to beating, torture and the most excruciating death the Romans could muster to save her.
Husbands, this IS YOUR command. Not a suggestion, but Christ’s instruction to you. Yes, I said its impossible, but it remains your duty to fulfill and every moment, we must press on towards fulfilling the model Christ left for us. Our journey is never complete until we are everything to her, that Christ was, and is to the church.
Wives, do you think you could submit yourself to a man such as this as he also submits himself to you? Husbands, ARE you this man?
In His service... Arthur Smith
In His Service… Arthur Smith
