True Life Church

The Joy of Marriage - How To Be A Great Husband

     Greetings in the Name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. I hope and pray that your marriage is growing stronger and more meaningful everyday. In the last lesson we began talking about love. "Love" is something we all think we understand, yet few of us really have a grasp of what love is really all about. We think love is that special feeling - that something we feel on the inside when our heart skips a beat. In reality love has nothing to do with feelings. Feelings or emotions are the result, or outward expression, of the fruit of a true and proper God kind of love. We talked about agape love, the unconditional and sacrificial love which is loving your spouse like Christ loved the church. In 1 Corinthians 13:3-8 the apostle Paul describes agape love. The Living Bible says it this way (paraphrasing):

Love is:

1) very patient.

2) very kind.

3) never jealous.

4) never envious.

5) never boastful loud mouthed.

6) never proud.

7) never haughty, selfish or rude.

8) Love does not demand its own way.

9) not irritable or touchy.

10) Love does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong.

11) never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out.

12) If you love, you will be loyal no matter what the cost.

13) You'll believe in them always expect the best and always stand your ground in

defending them.

Love is action. When a husband loves his wife, he is giving of himself in a way that will make a difference in her life, not his. Regardless of how she responds, he is to act toward her the way God acts towards mankind when we are not deserving.

You ask, what if I do my part and give my wife unconditional love and she doesn’t respond? What do I do then? How do I respond to that? Remember, agape love gives unconditionally. If you continue to love your wife, she will eventually respond. If you sow the God kind of love, you will reap the God kind of love.

Now let me make this clear. Not every wife will respond the way God has purposed for her to respond. In the same way, not every person will receive Jesus as Savior just because God loves them. Everyone has the freedom to reject God. Your wife has the same freedom to reject God’s love in you. There can be many reasons why your wife continues to reject you but that doesn’t give you the excuse to give up. Keep loving your wife as Christ loved the church. Aren’t you glad Jesus didn’t give up on you? It is very possible that what you think is agape love is not agape love at all. As you continue to love her, your heart will change. By applying God’s Word in your life in order to "love your wife as Christ loved the church", you will find your mind being renewed by the Word of God. You will notice a change in your wife as your heart and mind are transformed. You will begin to see her as God sees her. And you will love her as God loves her.

This transition takes time and effort but, it is worth everything you put into it. Men, love your wives and they will love you in return. Next lesson we will talk about how to minister to your wife. Wives, this is a good lesson to make sure your husband reads.

Until next time, God bless. Terry