Scripture Texts: Ephesians 5:23-33; 1 Corinthians 7:2-4;
1 Peter 3:7; 1 Timothy 5:8

In Christian marriage a man and a woman not only sustain and reproduce physical life, they pray for and encourage each other in the things that pertain to godly living.
The husband has his part to share in this agreement. He has taken on the new responsibility of a wife and a home.

As He has done in all of His handiwork, God has organized the home in an orderly, systematic manner. Each family member has his place to fill and is fitted to fill that place. Today we study the place of the husband.

MEMORY VERSE: Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them (Colossians 3:19).

The Husband Is Head

Ephesians 5:23-27 For the husband is the head of the wife. Every organization or organism must have its head, its manager, its director, if it is to function properly. In the family, the husband is that head. The husband exercises his headship over his wife as Christ does His bride, the church. Christ saves it, loves it, gave Himself for it, sanctifies and cleanses it, making it glorious ... not having spot, or wrinkle ... holy and without blemish. This is the example given to husbands. The power and authority of the husband as head was given by God in the beginning. When this authority is used after the example of Christ, what wife would object to submitting to and obeying him? The husband who claims that his wife must obey his least whim forgets his own responsibility. The love that led Christ to Calvary is the pattern for the love of the husband for the wife–self-sacrificing, patient, generous. In the presence of this love, obedience becomes a joy and service a privilege. In 1 Corinthians 11:3, we are given the chain of command as laid down by God. The head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

Love Is the Key

Ephesians 5:28-33 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies, as themselves, for in a large sense a man's wife is himself. They are one flesh. Her interests are his interests; her honor, his honor; her comfort, his comfort; her prosperity, his prosperity; and her life, his life. Every husband who has his own good at heart will nourish and cherish his wife, for they are one, and their good rises or falls together. Love does no harm to the one it loves. It is a privilege more than a duty for the husband to love in this way, even as Christ loves.

Due Benevolence

1 Corinthians 7:2-4 Let every man have his own wife. It is God's will from the beginning that man has one wife, that he may better live a holy life and do God's will. Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence–good will, charitableness, a desire to promote happiness. This kindness and consideration is due her, he owes it to her. The wife and husband are both to remember that each is given to the other. There is no longer any room for selfishness, for self-gratification at the expense of the other.

Now all this may sound strange in this day when we hear so much about freedom of women. But in these Scriptures, Paul states a principle that cannot be denied by the facts. The man is the head of the house, and the woman takes her place in loving subjection beside him.

Honor the Weaker Vessel

1 Peter 3:7 ... giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel. There are rules of courtesy which teach us to put ladies first, that a gentleman should stand and offer his seat to a lady, etc. These have their foundation in the fact that women are the weaker ones and in this command that men protect this weakness with their strength. Husbands are also to honor wives as being heirs together of the grace of life. Both are equally included in God's gift of salvation. Treat your wife as your equal. In Jesus, there is no difference; His favor is extended to both sexes. There is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28). God expects husbands to give this honor and consideration to the wife that your prayers be not hindered. Lack of love, selfishness, disunity, or any other thing that destroys faith hinders answers to prayer.

The Husband Is Provider

1 Timothy 5:8 If any provide not for his own ... he hath denied the faith. A serious charge, indeed. Disobedience is a deeper denial than mere words. When God pronounced a curse upon Adam, Eve, and the serpent in punishment for the first sin on earth, He gave to the man the responsibility of laboring to provide the living for the family (Genesis 3:17-19). It was his place to labor with the thorns and thistles of the ground to obtain food. His labor now is to provide the necessities for himself and for his family. The very meaning of "husband" carries in it the meaning of one who cares for others. The husband who fills his place rightly as head of, director of, protector of, and provider for his family has earned respect and honor, as well as the love of his family.

A secure home and a happy marriage cannot be established within the narrow limitations of law; it must press beyond into the freedom of love.

JUST A THOUGHT

One who works for only the pay he gets is being overpaid.

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