God’s Design for Love Relationships and Marriages—Part 2

Today let’s speak with MEN. Ladies, you are welcome to listen in if you so choose as we look at Ephesians 5:22—28 ..

Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ’s love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. And that is how husbands ought to love their wives. They’re really doing themselves a favor—since they’re already “one” in marriage. 

The best way to sum up Paul’s instruction to men is that they give of themselves, or more succinctly that they ’die.’ This is a big task, such a big task that it is reflected in the number of words Paul uses in the passage. In the Greek, the language Paul originally wrote in, the command for the woman is 47 words long, whereas the command for the man is 143 words long. Men, are you dying for her? Do you give up your time to truly listen to her with your undivided attention? Are you making it clear that meeting her needs in the marriage is your priority? For most men who are not seeking to reflect Christ’s example this can be a horrifying thought:

“Perhaps this is why the text talks about the man dying for the woman. This can be terrifying for a man. Committing to a woman for life is going to demand courage, fidelity, and strength he may not know he has. This is why some men take such pride in their sexual conquests. They’re desperately running from their fear that they don’t have what it takes to lay down their lives for a woman. Sleeping with lots of women gives them the feeling of being a man without actually having to be one” (Taken from Sex God by Rob Bell).

So men, have you been the main attraction at a funeral in your wife’s honor lately? If not, pray today that the Lord will give you the strength to die to self so that your wife will experience a Christ-like love through you.