A Word to Husbands
Love is a Choice
Clay Turner, Creek
Ephesians 5:25-31
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Today it seems that the word ‘love’ is often misused and misunderstood. “I don’t love her anymore” or “We’re no longer in love” are some of the things that a husband may say when his marriage is falling apart. Our culture today tells us to follow our heart, and that we should trust our feelings, yet the Bible says something quite different (Pro 28:26). Nowhere in Scripture are we told to marry the one we love . . . Husbands are commanded to love the one you’re married to!
Ephesians 5:25 and Colossians 3:19 tell us that our duty as Christian men is to “Love our wives.” Biblical love is defined by giving on one’s self for the good of another (John 15:3). We demonstrate love by investing in and spending time with our wives. Show me where you spend your time and your money and I’ll show you where your heart is (Matt 6:21). Your wife is a God given priority. Do you love her as Christ loved us? Your wife needs a Christ like servant-leader who will give her an earthly example of God’s divine love. When God blessed me with my wife, she became my best friend, and my #2 priority, God being my first priority! I must daily choose to consider her needs and make her well-being my priority. Being a selfish husband will always backfire (Eph 5:28-29). Are we willing to be the men God has called us to be? Are we honoring our wives and praying with them? Is my marriage to my wife a good picture of Christ and the church?
We will feel inadequate and we will often fail, but we are called to love and lead our wives. Begin by making the Word of God a priority in your home. Humbly ask your wife to forgive your past failures and begin to pray together. Plan a short time every day to read at least a small passage of God’s word together. Show your wife that you are committed to serve the Lord by being committed to your local church. Always be quick to ask for forgiveness when you fail and forgive when you are offended.
As you invest your energy and time in meeting her spiritual and physical needs you will find that you begin to “feel” the love that you are demonstrating. A good godly marriage is a little be like heaven on earth, it is worth the work. Beware of little distractions such as hobbies, entertainment, friendships or habits that may steal time from and damage your marriage.
Thank God for your wife, and the . . . love her.
Published by permission - GW - Victory Ministries of Middle TN - VMMTN.COM
Thanks for Taking Five - God bless and bless GOD
