“Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.”
Since people were coming to Christ in the first century, there are the practical questions of how Christian relationship should change. In the previous chapters we had looked at how Jesus affects one's relationship and the importance of harmony and order within the institutions that God has made and how mankind and culture affects those relationships. We see the importance of being a witness to the unsaved and an influence in our culture around us with the light that comes from God. We saw the overlying principle of submission, first to God and then to those who have authority over us, so peace will reign and not chaos.
A marriage relationship is the hardest place to live out your faith if you are married to an unsaved person. Don't marry a non-Christian; you will be disobeying the Lord. But the point we made last time was if you came to faith in Jesus and your husband has not, then be the best wife or husband you can be.
Marriage is a matter of submission in the partnership, it is a matter of purity in actions and dress, a matter of gentleness in attitude and words and a matter of trust in Jesus under whom one gives complete faith that He will work it out for His best. There is no place for abuse or assault, however and if one finds herself in that type of situation, help is needed for all parties involved. That is not honoring to the Lord.
This week we introduced our thoughts to speak to the husbands. I feel in this verse the New International Version translates the Greek with more interpretation than what the text might allow. The KJV translates it. "Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered." Of course, being considerate and respectful are qualities of a good relationship, the knowledge of our relationship and submission to the Lord as our ultimate authority and example gives husbands a spiritual responsibility than the role we play. Our relationship to Jesus affects our relationship to our spouse.
Application: Do you seek to treat your spouse with the love and grace that the Lord gives to you?
As God desires harmony in the home, the relationship between husband and wife is a reflection of the relationship that God desires with Jesus and the Church. Further reading on this is in Ephesians 5:25-33.
Prayer: Lord, help us to always follow the order You have laid out for us and be a reflection of You in our marriage and all our relationships.
