TEXT: GENESIS 2:18-25
MEMORY VERSE: …..rejoice
in the wife of your youth (Prov.5:18c NLT)
INTRODUCTION: The union of husband and wife merges
two persons in such a way that little can affect one without also affecting the
other. Oneness in marriage does not mean losing your personality in the
personality of the other. Instead, it means caring for your spouse as you care
for yourself, learning to anticipate his or her needs, helping the other person become all he or she can be. The creation
story tells of God’s plan that husband and wife should be one (Genesis 2:24),
and Jesus also referred to this plan (Matthew 19:4-6). A study of the Bible
pattern for the home is important. How should husband and wife treat one
another? What are the duties of the husband, wife? How important are love and
commitment in marriage? For what cause may spouses divorce and remarry? Who should
exercise authority as head in the home? Who should provide family income and
who should care for the home? How diligent should parents be in teaching and
training the children? Who should care for elderly parents? God’s word gives
inspired instruction to guide us to happy homes. If we are to enjoy God’s
blessings in our homes, we have to know what the Bible says about God’s purpose
for husbands and wives. In order to
experience matrimonial happiness, we have to live according to his plan.
What instructions does God’s word provide to help us have homes that please Him
and accomplish His will?
THE ROLES OF THE
HUSBAND
1. He must NEVER take
wife for granted, but will honour and respect her as his equal (Read 1Pet.3:7) God commands the husband to treat his
wife as an equal and grant her the highest honour! If not God says he will not
answer your prayers! Selfishness is a marriage killer. For many men they think
they are better than their wife simply because they are men. These men have
made a serious judgment error. Husbands, tell your wife how important and
valuable she is to you. Watch for the loving smile on her face when you do! The
Proverbs writer said “An excellent wife, who can find? (Read Prov.31:10-12).
Notice how the wise husband trusts his wife’s judgments and realizes how
fortunate he is to have her.
(A) DISCUSS why many men disrespect their wives.
(b) How may this be corrected? (c) Let the men in attendance at this meeting
freely say what they expect their wives to do or be, to gain their respect.
2. The husband’s
highest allegiance, except God, shall be his wife, not his relatives or friends
(Gen.2:24)
Many husbands honour their blood family over their own wife.
Such is a recipe for disaster! In-law problems are often the result of a
husband who allows his mother and father to interfere in his relationship with his
wife.
DISCUSS the limits the in-laws should be
allowed in husband-wife affairs
3. The Husband should
frequently tell his wife how important &valuable she is to him (Phil.2:3;
Prov.31:10-12).
Selfishness is a marriage killer. For many men they think
they are better than their wife simply because they are men. God gave women the
authority to make important decision too: They are workers in and managers of
the home (1Tim.5:14; Tim. 2:5). A wife’s judgment can be better than her
husband’s. For example, Nabal and Abigail: 1Sam.25. Men should learn to express
their appreciation to their wives.
When someone’s saying
“I love you,” he always ought to give a lot of details: Why does he love
you? How much does he love you? When and where did he first begin to love you?
And even though he insists it would take forever to count the ways he loves
you, let him start counting.
Church of Eternal Life Jos, Plateau state.
