Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:24-27)
I don't know how many people really use this passage as a guide in their marriages. What I do know is that a whole lot of people who claim to are only using half of it, and usually not correctly. So, a quick word on that: submission and servitude aren't the same thing. Not remotely.
But speaking of service, let's look at that pesky, mostly ignored portion: "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her..."
Very often, we ignore this entire section of Scripture because it makes us uncomfortable. But when we really look at it, we can see a beautiful, wonderful prescription for a loving household. Christ didn't come to dominate the church. He came to humble Himself, to serve her, to die for her, to lead her in the ways of God, and back, ultimately, to the arms of the Father.
You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (-Jesus, Matthew 20:25-28)
This is what Holy Love looks like. It is a sacrificial, desperate love. It is the kind of love that makes a man willing to die for his wife. The kind of love that weeps with her, that rejoices with her, that wants only the best for her.
Imagine how marriage would look if men would truly love their wives as Christ loved the church!
Amen. I have learned so much about God's love from my own husband. He never treats me like an interruption--no matter what he's doing, he welcomes me and tells me I'm more important. Who does that??
ReplyDeleteStill working on reciprocating.
Makes it so much easier to submit, trust his judgment, and follow his lead when I *know* how much he loves me and puts me first.