Loving Our Wives

by Theodore Young Jr.

Christian husbands are familiar with Ephesians 5:25: “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.” I took this Scripture for granted at the time of my marriage. As I continue to walk this Christian journey, the Holy Spirit challenged me. That challenge was, could I sacrifice myself in service to my wife? Could I make my wife and my marriage a priority in my life? Could I serve

her when I did not feel like it or if I was displeased with my wife? I have been convinced by the word of God that “I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Jesus said, “Just as the Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve” (Matthew 20:28). Are we servants to our wives? We honor our wives when we serve them in private and in public. We display love, respect, and appreciation for who God created them to be. My motivation for serving my wife is based on the salvation I received from Christ and the covenant of marriage I made before God and witnesses. With His forgiveness that I

received, I honor God by acts of service in love to my wife. The most powerful way of displaying God’s love to our wives is by modeling the behavior of Christ in our marriage. When the disciples were caught in a storm, they woke up a sleeping Jesus. He immediately went to the Father in prayer and spoke peace to the storm. As husbands, we speak peace to our wives’ storms. We speak hope to their challenges and to their concerns. We reassure them that we will always be there for them, reminding them of God’s word and praying for them regularly.

I have experienced that my selfishness has been an obstacle to love my wife the way God would have me do. Husbands, if we are being honest with ourselves, sometimes our personal agendas can create difficult moments in our marriages. However, I have found that when I am having regular quiet time (meditating on His word) with the Lord God, I gain His perspective. I value my wife more than myself. I am more sensitive to the Holy Spirit, who directs me to the needs of my wife. I gain revelation of God’s plan for me to have a “helper” with divine anointing, assisting me to complete my God-given assignment.

Having an intimate relationship with God places us in position to be better servants. With more of His love, we can’t help but share it with our wives. When we love them, we are honoring the ONE who gave them to us. God is not expecting perfection from us as husbands but a continual willingness to share what we have received from Him.

For the wives who are reading this and recognizing discrepancies in our relationships, don’t get mad. Pray for us with an unshakable faith. Our Father in Heaven hears all of your prayers, and He will respond in love.

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