The Christian husband is the loving, servant-leader of the Christian family.
God designed men and women to fulfill specific roles within a marriage. According to God’s plan, being a Christian husband takes priority over being a father. God’s intention for marriage is that it will be the highest level of relationship possible between two people. After their relationship with God, a man and wife should cleave to one another in a way that nothing comes between them including their children. For this reason, the role of being a Christian husband is the most important position a man can hold. If it is done God’s way, the husband/wife relationship should reflect the Christ/church relationship.
The Christian husband is the head of the household. He is the spiritual leader in the home. Ephesians 5:22-23 (NKJV) tells us, Wives submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is Savior of the body. The husbands loving servant leadership sets the tone of the household. God calls your wife to submit to you, but you are NOT to run your house like a dictator. You should NEVER demand or force your wife to submit to you. You are not in a position of superiority, and your wife is not in a position of inferiority. Colossians 3:19 (NIV) says, Husbands love your wives and do not be harsh with them. You and your wife have different roles, but those roles have different worth and value.
A Christian husband is called to provide for his family. The Bible specifically addresses those fathers who do not provide for their family. 1Timothy 5:8 (NKJV) says, But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
1Peter 3:7 (NIV) says, Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers. When the Bible refers to your wife as the weaker partner, it is not implying moral or intellectual inferiority. Your wife is physically weaker, but she is also more sensitive, delicate, and fragile. She is always to be protected and handled with loving care because she is your precious, priceless gift from God. As a child of the Most High, she is the daughter of God. When it comes to her, God is your father-in-law, and He will not answer your prayers if you mistreat His daughter.
Christian husbands must recognize that loving your wife is and ongoing process. You must set your mind to maintain, develop, and work at your marriage for the rest of your life. To make sure you are on the right track, give yourself this daily test. Put yourself in 1Corinthians 13:4-8: I am patient, I am kind, I do not envy, I do not boast, I am not proud, I am not rude, I am not self-seeking, I am not easily angered, I keep no record of wrongs, I do not delight in evil, I rejoice with the truth, I always protect, always trust, always hope, always persevere. LOVE NEVER FAILS. The daily application of this test takes time and energy, but it is worth the investment! 1John 4:16 (NIV) tells us, And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. GOD IS LOVE. Whoever lives in love, lives in God, and God in him. As a man in the flesh, you cannot love your wife properly in your own strength and abilities. None of us can fulfill all of these requirements to love our wives. However, the Bible says “God is love” and “love never fails,” so doing things God’s way will never fail. You must pursue God and His knowledge, then pursue your wife and apply His knowledge. You must pray daily and ask God to fill you with His Spirit.
CONCLUSION
You will be living with your wife for the rest of your life. As you love her unconditionally, God is glorified, and you as a Christian husband will be a Champion of Christ and Living in Victory.
