Just For Men

Just For Men

Ephesians 5:22 - 6:4 “Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.  For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.  Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.  Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her  to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,  and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.  In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.  After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church —  for we are members of his body.  “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

 “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.  “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise —  “that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”  Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”

What is this saying to us men? What does it tell us about the way to conduct our marriage and raise our families?

Wives – submit to your husbands “as the church submits to Christ”. This is not an obedience test. Wives submit in love to their husbands

Husbands – love your wives – or cherish them. It doesn’t say to order them around or to degrade them. It is a clear instruction to cherish, love, lift up, affirm, and respect our wives.

Children – obey your parents. Watch them and imitate their godly habits and activities. Honour is something we give but respect is something we have to earn. Our children will honour us as their parents but they may not respect us very much at all. We need also to earn their respect rather than demand respect as many do.

Fathers – do not exasperate your children, nor cause them anger, nor blame them for copying your own bad habits. Do not expect them to do what you do not do. They will do as you do not as you say.

Husbands do NOT – order your wives and children around. Rather lead and teach by your own example. Do not force them into submission or obedience, rather lead and teach them by your own example. It is not do as I say but do as I do. It doesn’t say to beat your wife or your children if they do not please you – that is abuse of the worst kind because it is both physical and mental abuse because of the fear it generates.

Wives honour your husbands and submit to them. It doesn’t say do not discuss or even argue, but it does urge you to submit to their household priesthood and godly leadership.

So – how are we all doing then ????