What makes a good husband

Robbie Green

It seems like everyone has a different opinion on what role a husband should fill in the house. Some say husbands are large and in charge; every decision and idea must run through him. Others think husband and wife are equals; it doesn’t matter who makes decisions or income as long as both agree.

In Ephesians 5, the apostle Paul says husbands and wives should submit to each other. Then he says that the husband is the head, and the wife should submit to the husband. So, should the wife submit to the husband or should they both submit to each other? Paul concludes his thoughts on the matter by making the following statement:

"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her..." (Ephesians 5:25).

What Paul is saying is that a husband's role is less important than his attitude. The husband leads the household. But what if leading the household doesn’t mean what we think it means?

3 Lessons on Leading From the Way Jesus Loved the Church

1. Jesus gave up His life for the Church.

If Jesus had not died, the Church would not be active today. Because He was willing to lay His life down for the good of the Church, we are here, we have joy, and we have purpose.

A husband's role is less important than his attitude.

As a husband, I want to ask myself every day: Do my actions, words, and decisions bring life to my spouse?  If you don’t know the answer, just ask your wife. Are you willing to lay down anything that prohibits your wife from pursuing the life Christ called her to live?

2. Jesus gave up His rights for the Church.

There is a difference between being “right,” and doing the right thing.  Jesus had every right to let me die in my sins, but instead He gave up His rights to preserve the relationship. Husbands: are we more concerned with our rights, with being right, than we are with bringing joy to our wives?

3. Jesus enabled the Church to flourish.

Two thousand years and billions of people later, the Church continues to find joy in a growing relationship with Jesus. The Bible confirms that the Church’s best days are ahead. What about your wife? Is she growing spiritually? Is she happy? Does she look forward to the days ahead with joy or does she dread a list of things to do?

Husbands, we have a great calling. We are called to give up our life for the benefit of another. How different would our lives and our communities be if we stopped worrying about a role or a position and focused on having the right attitude, the attitude of Christ?

Search for "marriage" and "parenting" on www.newspring.cc/watchandread to work with Jesus on improving your family life.