Summed up in one chapter, the Bible gives unwavering commands to the wife and another to the husband. The woman should submit, and the husband should love. Submitting is not easy as much as loving at the level this reference scripture says is not easy. I will address each starting with submitting and then to loving as Christ loves the Church.
Submitting to your husband
Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything (Ephesians 5:24). Furthermore, the Bible says that wives should submit unto their own husbands, as unto the Lord. Wives are part of the church that has to submit unto the Lord, the same way they do to God, the same way God expects them to submit to their husbands. There is no condition where a wife is not expected to submit.
This is scriptural and anyone that advices a wife otherwise is against God. The wife should not complain when a husband but let the leading of the husband take ultimate priority. The same way Christ require obedience from the church, the same way wife should to their husbands.
However, note that Christ is not human and in Him there is not mistake. Whatever He says unto the church, it is right and good for the church to abide. I therefore will qualify the condition of submitting by adding the following:
- Submitting does not mean succumbing to sin because the husband demands for it. Sin is an abomination to God and no excuse warrants for a believer to fall into sin. Humbly submitting to your husband should make it easy for you to humbly voice your opinion not to engage in sin at his command.
- Submitting does not mean not applying yourself. The devil might use the husband to destroy you or even your family as a whole. You therefore need to prayerfully apply yourself, submit and be wise as a serpent (Matthew 10:16).
We have examples in the Bible of woman that passed the test of humbling themselves unto their husbands. 1 Peter 3:6 says, ‘Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement’.
Loving your wife
The standard is very high for men. Christ has shown His love in that while we were sinners, He died for us (Romans 5:8). That’s the same way husbands should be to their wives. A wife that cheats should be forgiven as Christ forgives the church day in day out. Men know and have experienced the love of Christ in many ways. The same way, they should do the same to their wives.
I’m reminded of a song that expresses the love of Jesus Christ:
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases
His mercies never come to an end,
They are new every morning
New every morning
Great is Your faithfulness, 0 Lord
Great is Your faithfulness (Repeat 2)
Conclusion
We need help to live up to God’s expectations about our lives in marriage. The best way is to live prayerfully and be diligent in keeping Bible teachings. It will not be possible to keep to the standard without the help of God.
This post was inspired by a lesson given by Bishop Msibi from Witbank South Africa that had been invited by the Alliance Church in Mbabane Swaziland on 30 June 2015. The Bishop addressed the topic of ‘Cheating’.
You are welcome to give your comments.
Marriage is a gift from God but there are hard realities. The man should love unconditionally while the wife should submit in everything.