Family Friendly Truth - Part 2

Family Friendly Truth - Part 2

Ephesians 5:22-6:4

Sermon by Rick Crandall

McClendon Baptist Church - Aug. 31, 2008

*Walt Larimore tells about a unique phone call he had from his dad on the day Walt’s daughter turned six. Walt’s dad wished his granddaughter a happy birthday, then asked to speak with his son.

*Granddad congratulated Walt and noted that it was his "one-third birthday." Walt was confused since it was his daughter's birthday, and she had only turned six. Then Walt’s dad said, "Yes, but one-third of your life with her at home is now over." (1)

*It was a stunning statement, but it was true. When we are young, it seems like our children will be home with us forever. But looking back, we find that they are grown and gone in a blink. That’s just one reason to realize how precious our families are.

*Our families are precious to us, and they are infinitely more precious to the Lord. God created families. He loves families. He knows the best way for families to thrive, and He shows us in His Word. Let’s take a look at some family friendly truth.

1. The first truth is for wives: Give your husband the head place in your family.

*Let your husband be the head of your family. Listen to Paul’s guidance in Eph 5:22-24.

22. Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

23. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.

24. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

*Then in vs. 33 Paul says, “Let the wife see that she respects her husband.”

*Many people will tell you that this family truth is obsolete. Do not believe them. This Scripture is just as relevant today as it ever has been, so let’s try to see what it means.

*Notice that Paul tells wives to submit right after he tells all Christians to submit to each other in reverence for God. This kind of submission then should be normal behavior for ALL Christians. It’s normal and it is voluntary. Christian wives, the word picture means voluntarily putting yourself under someone else. It’s you letting your husband be the head of your family.

*Of course this submission does not give your husband the right to bully you, or rule over you with an iron thumb. Paul said, “Submit to your husband, as to the Lord.” Just think about your relationship with Jesus. Does He ever bully you or push you around? Is He ever mean to you? -- No, of course not.

*But why does God ask you to “submit to your husband, as to the Lord”?

-Mainly because your marriage is a model of the relationship between Jesus and the church. Christ is the Bridegroom, and the church is the Bride of Christ. So your submissive heart can help point people to Jesus, especially the other people in your own family.

*Another big reason why God asks you to submit to your husband is because He created men with a built-in need to be respected. Men generally respond to respect. It charges us up and motivates us to be the husband you want us to be.

*Years ago, Coach Pepper Rodgers was in the middle of a terrible football season at UCLA. It got so bad that it even upset his home life. Pepper later said: “My dog was my only friend. I told my wife that a man needs at least two friends. -- And she bought me another dog!” (2)

*Ouch! -- Ladies, don’t be like that. Give honor and respect to your husband. But know that this certainly does not mean men are better than you. If anybody has dropped the ball in American society, it’s the men!

*My wife is a strong woman. And she is a better person than me in a lot of ways. But she willingly submits herself to me. Why does she do that? Is it because I deserve it? -- Occasionally, and hopefully more and more. But that is not why Mary submits to me.

*The main reason why my wife voluntarily submits to me is because she gets it.

-Mary understands that this is God’s plan for families.

-That God designed our earthly family to point us to His Heavenly family.

-That Christ is the Bridegroom and the church is the Bride of Christ.

-And Mary understands that showing respect helps make me a better husband.

*So Wives: Give your husband the head place in your family.

2. And Husbands: Give your heart to your wife.

*Vs. 25 is a most profound truth for us as husbands. Paul said, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it.” Men: There is no doubt that God gives the greatest responsibility to us. We are to love our wives the way Jesus Christ loves us.