So here, we see something that could quite possibly seem out of place, but I think it is very rightfully put where it is. Here, Paul discusses the relationship between wives and husbands. He begins by saying that wives should submit to there husbands, because there husband is the head of the family like Christ is the head of the church. So as the church submits to Christ, a wife should submit to her husband. The Paul devotes even more verses to saying how husbands should love their wives as Christ loved the church. He reminds them that Christ gave himself up for the church, to sanctify her, and he says that in the same way husbands should love their wives. He even says that husbands should love their wives as their own bodies, pointing out that no one ever hated their own bodies. He concludes in summary, saying husbands should love their wives as Christ loved the church, and women should respect their husbands.
"Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered." 1st Peter 3:17
"Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them." Colossians 3:19
Now, I am not one to begin here to preach the submission of women. I have never been that guy who thinks the woman's rightful place is the kitchen. I don't think men are superior to women in everything. Now quite obviously in the text we call the bible, there is a lot of verses that talk about women submitting to their husbands authority, and I do agree with that. I believe God set up the family with the husband as the head, he is the spiritual leader, but I don't think that means that women shouldn't work or the man shouldn't help take care of the kids. But I do think that God gave the man some sort of authority over women when it comes to the family, and I think that should be respected.
Now, that being said, I see a whole lot of verses here devoted to telling the husband how he should love his wife. Now I don't necessarily know the situation between husbands and wives in Ephesus, but I do know something about husbands and wives of today. I see a great need for husbands to really love their wives. I think part of the break down of the American family is an inability or lack of trying on the part of the man to love his wife. Here we can plainly see that we, as men, are supposed to love our wives as Christ loved the church. Now from scripture, we see that the love that Christ loved the church with was a sacrificial love, He gave up everything to bring her to himself. We are commanded to love our wives like that. I think if men today loved their wives in this way and weren't consumed with the other things in this world, we may very well see much less divorce.
I hope that whenever I marry, I can love my wife this way. I want to love my wife as Christ loved the church. Being in a committed, long-term relationship, I have begun to see what loving someone like this looks like. And I will say it, it is not always easy, but I do feel it is what I am called to do. And, I don't know how to explain it, but something just feels right in loving someone where you give of yourself to the betterment of that person. Maybe I will understand it and be able to articulate it better when I am actually married, but there is just something that is right about it.
LORD, help me today to learn what it means to love my future wife as you loved the church. Lord, whenever I am married, God may I love her in this way. May I not fall into the trap of calling for her just submitting to me, but may I also love her as you loved the church. Amen.
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