Godly Husbands - By Bradley D. Watson
Today's subject will not be popular as I delve into the subject of being a Godly husband. Many times the role of husband that is portrayed is one of a very weak nature or is totally a buffoon. Many people watched "Everyone Loves Raymond" as Ray Romano gave us an inside look at his idea of the American family. The sitcom received high ratings for quite a while. I have to admit that I watched it and laughed at it, but if you really think about it, the program painted a sad picture of the family. Ray's mother, Marie, was the most dominant person of the family. His father, Frank, was a nothing more than an oaf. Ray's wife, Debra, was fighting for her place of prominence while Ray was caught in the middle of the two women and was too weak to do anything about it.
Have you seen a sitcom or a movie that showed the husband being a strong leader recently? Most of the time husbands are either abusive or weaklings. Many times there is no husband or father at all. What a sad commentary of the American family. I believe it is time for Christian men to stand up and be Godly husbands. Are you with me?
What does a Godly husband look like? In order to answer that question, we have to go to scripture.
Ephesians 5:25-31 (ESV)
25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,
26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,
27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.
28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church,
30 because we are members of his body.
31 "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."
1 Peter 3:7 (ESV)
7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.
(emphasis mine)
The four words that are emphasized help us get a better concept of what it means to be a Godly husband.
A husband is to Love like the Savior. The Greek word is Agape, which means to love sacrificially. One of the ideas of sacrificial love is that it seeks God's best for your wife. It is never selfish. I realize that we men can be extremely selfish at times. (I know, women also can be selfish, but I am writing about husbands today...wives come later.) Agape love is totally unselfish and giving. Agape love is also forgiving as well as an act of our will. We have to choose to have Agape love for our wives. One more thought -- Agape love is unconditional. Our wives should not be trying to earn our unconditional love. We are to give it as Christ gave it to us.
As we nourish and cherish our wives, we create an environment which helps them to excel at being whom God created them to be. God has given us a gift in our wives and we are to care for that gift in a way that will show the world what we think about God as well as our wives.
Finally, we are to understand our wives. The most exciting book that we ever will read is our wife. The reason for that statement is that she is ever changing. Her emotions can be extremely complex. Her wants can change over time. She will do some things that she has no idea why she did them. She needs to know that her husband will love her and attempt to understand her in all of these times.
Guys, God tells us to love. Our wives need security and these words that have been highlighted help us know how to create security in our marriage.
Bradley D. Watson, BCBT. Directed Path Ministries. http://www.DirectedPathMinistries.org ,Pastoral Counselor and Belief Therapist Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bradley_D._Watson Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3413669