Husbands, Love Your Wives

Husbands, love your Wives

Ephesians 5:25

As we celebrate Father’s Day, I want to wish each father a happy Father’s Day. I can say without hesitation, that being a father is one of the greatest blessings and joys in my life. I am truly thankful for the two daughters the Lord blessed Tanya and me with.

Some might think my text a bit strange for Father’s Day, but I want to be obedient to the Lord. I have had this verse on my heart for some time for today. Actually, I am convinced it is a very fitting text for today. If we are to be the fathers God desires of us, we must first be the husbands God desires of us. Paul reveals the foundation for being a good husband, as well as, being a good father – loving our wives. I cannot love my children as I should if I do not love my wife as I should.

Now, I will be the first to admit that this command is quite difficult to fulfill. On the surface it may appear that the Lord expects us just to love our wives, and I will agree that is what the text implies. However, there is much more to the love Paul spoke of in the text than most realize. We are to love our wives as Christ loved the church. That is significant love. "This is a sacrificial love that does well and wishes well—no matter the circumstance. It is a love that disciplines and corrects harmful indulgence and misbehavior, no matter the cost to self. It is a love that demonstrates kindness, benevolence, and esteem even in the midst of stormy situations. It is the love of the mind, reason, and choice. Simply stated, agape love is a sacrificial love, that is, a love that cares, gives, and works for another person's good—no matter how the person may respond or treat one." (i)

As we examine this challenging text, we must consider the love Christ had for the church if we expect to love our wives as Christ loved the church. Let’s consider the aspects of such love as we discuss the command: Husbands, Love your Wives. Scripture reveals Christ’s love was:

I. Sacrificial Love (Eph.5:25) – Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it. We know that Christ made the supreme sacrifice for the church; He willingly laid down His life on the cross in order to purchase our redemption. The Lord surrendered all of Himself as He died for our sin. His love for the church compelled Him to endure the horrors of the cross, drinking the cup of God’s wrath and judgment, and die an agonizing death in our place. Such love is beyond our ability to comprehend, and yet He loved that much!

Men, this is profound and greatly challenging. Paul declared that we are to love our wives as Christ loved the church, being willing to give ourselves for her. Likely, under extreme circumstances, most husbands who love their wives would be willing to die in her place. We would put ourselves in harms way to ensure her safety and security; but, what about ordinary living? Do we daily express a sacrificial love for our wives? Do we place her needs and desires above our own? Are we willing to sacrifice our time and plans in order to genuinely show our love? In essence, do we love her more than life itself? These are sobering questions, but ones we must answer if we are to fulfill a biblical love for our wives. She must be more important than our desires, our goals, and our pursuit of success. In fact, our love for her must be second only to our love for the Lord. Are we showing our wives sacrificial love?

II. Substantial Love (1 John 3:16a) – Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us. It is impossible to question or deny the love of Christ for the church. Our text revealed that he gave His life for the church. John declares that He laid down His life for us. This is substantial love – love that withholds nothing; love that is willing to give one’s all; love that is proven without doubt, not just in word, but also in deed. Phil.2:7-8 – But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: [8] And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Christ emptied Himself of the glory He enjoyed with the Father, making Himself of no reputation, adorned a body of flesh as a servant of others, and humbled himself in obedient death on the cross for the church! That is substantial love!