Why? Because so many young men don't have the awareness as to what is expected of a husband. The Bible offers great information to help us to become the best that we can be. I know when I came across the words below, I thought - this would be great if every man about to be married, read the following and signed this as a type of a "Commitment to Marriage Certificate". If we all did, the number of successful and happy marriages would be phenomenal. It is now shared below for your review (love is a great gift).
Most are familiar with the 1 Corinthians 13:4–8 words of "Love is patient, love is kind...". The focus of this week's lesson is tied to the words found in Ephesians 5:22-33 (notice where the wife is told once to submit to her husband, but the husband is told three times to love his wife. That must mean it’s pretty important!).
Husbands are called by God to be loving leaders of their household. The husband’s basic role is to love. That word is 'agape', a deep, unconditional, irrevocable type of love. That’s the standard: Husbands, unconditionally, irrevocably, love your wives. Not “rule your wives” or “order them around,” but “love them.” The husband is to initiate with love. Though he is to be the head of the home for the sake of authority and structure, in another sense he’s to be the heart of the home. The husband sets the tone of love in a household, with leadership balanced by affection. | As you read the words to the left and below, know that we all make mistakes - sometimes the things we say or do hurt those that we love. |
Your love is to be sacrificial love. Jesus loved us enough to come to the earth, take on the form of a man, and die for us. Some men can honestly say, “I’d take the bullet for my wife.” But if you can do that, it should mean you can do lesser things. The Word calls you to live sacrificially for your wife. Agape love isn’t based on the other’s performance, it is a choice. You make the choice to sacrifice for your wife.
It’s to be sanctifying love. Jesus’ love for us didn’t stop at the cross. It continues as He sanctifies and nurtures us. The verb “to husband” means “to till the ground.” The husband is to cultivate, to till the marriage ground, so that the wife is nurtured. The husband is drawing her away from worldly influences and closer to Jesus Christ. This means that husbands need to spend time with their wives (a good, healthy marriage is that the couple spends time together). Cultivate that love; let her know you want to be with her.
It’s to be secure love. “So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself” (v. 28). In other words, a man’s wife is an extension of himself. When he cares for her, she will have a great sense of security in his love. She will feel a part of him. As Adam said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh” (Genesis 2:23). Wives are to be nourished and cared for. Tell her, “I love you,” and do it frequently (and when you say it, mean it).
It’s to be stable love. “The two shall become one flesh” (v. 31) speaks of a permanent, stable love. Everything takes a back seat to this relationship. Becoming one flesh means to be glued together, inseparably and permanently. The absence of this stability in marriages causes many of them to fail. After marriage, some men think, “I’ve won. I can relax now” but without fuel to stoke the fire, the flame of love will soon subside.
Now in closing and in circling back to the "Why sign this?". I hope all men join me in thinking about the above, to ensure we pursue love of our wife, our kids and of God as we should. Thank you all.