What is this page?
The ministries in the Gospel.com Community create 'bookmarks' to help you find what you're looking for. Learn more
The ministries in the Gospel.com Community create 'bookmarks' to help you find what you're looking for. Learn more
Wives in the Bible: Ephesians 5:22-33
This much-discussed passage describes the sort of marriage relationship Christians should model: mutual service and self-sacrifice. Wives are called to submit to their husbands, and husbands are called to serve their wives.
http://biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%205:22-33&version=NIV
Topics:
Marriage, Wives, Husbands, Husband And Wife, Husbands And Wives
All Topics
HOW DOES A MAN FIND A WIFE, IS HE LEAD TO HER, OR IS IT A DIVINE CONNECTION…OR SHOULD I DO THINGS LIKE LOOKING ON A CHRISTIAN DATING SITE. HOW???????
i am a girl and i have just met someone on a christian dating site. i am soon meeting him after many conversations on the phone and also live chat. he may not be “the one” and sometime i feel hopeless in that department but i just have to forget and be patient.
Ashley, it sounds like patience and prayer are exactly the right things to pursue in your situation, so I think you’re on the right track. Best of luck to you as you figure things out!
Ashley, I know how you feel. Everywhere I go, it seems that everyone has a boyfriend. I know that some relationships will not last long, and others might. I have to keep praying and wait. Waiting is very difficult when there are many couples around us and many guys. My advice to you: wait and see what God does. If your relationship continues, I wish you well. If it does not, do not be discouraged, God knows what He is doing. In the meantime, you are not alone. I myself have never dated a guy, or been on a date. And that’s okay. I know that my man is out there somewhere and God is waiting for the right time in our lives to join us together.
Ashley: do not give up your purity, stay pure for YOUR man.
I was married to a man whom I loved with all my heart, but he was consistently led off the path by the devil. So, after 6 years I divorced him. For two years I wondered around trying to find someone to live the rest of my life with. Someone whose feet were firm on the path. But I found myself meeting men who talked the talk, but did not walk the walk. After two years of continuous turmoil, I found my path leading me back to my ex-husband. God says to love your husband forever…he says to pray for him if he is not doing right. He says to not divorce him. I am about to remarry my ex-husband, but this time he has found the path and although he’s not perfect, he is doing his best to correct his behavior and immediately gets back on the path when he strays. My advise to you is; No one is perfect, so the one whom you are waiting for may not be that far away from you…he just may be a work in progress, like the rest of us.
Don’t look on virtual Christian dating sites for a soul mate. Your life is not virtual, neither is that of your future soul mate. Instead, serve your God’s community in meaningful missions in the real world. Working side by side with men and women who share a love of the Lord is one of the best bonding experiences possible and helps prepare for the real and challenging work of building a family in God’s service.
On the other hand, online dating is but a chimera.
I say this as a man who met his wife doing good service nearly 30 years ago and who is enjoying watching his sons serve, learn and bond with other young men and women of God doing the Lord’s work.
The Ephesians passage starts off telling us to be imitators of God (Ephesians 5:1-2). For us to be imitators, we have to know God and His precepts for us, and we do this through reading the Word and following our Lord’s example, putting them into practice with our faith. This means we imitate His love and character in our relationships, especially with our spouse. So, in our relationships, we become imitators of God by walking in His love and allowing it to spill upon others. And, we do this because we honor and reverence our Lord Jesus Christ! As we grow in our faith and maturity, we will desire Him over the ways of the world. If we think we can do what we want while claiming Christ as Lord, we delude ourselves. How can we honor our Lord when we do not honor what He has taught us (John 14:15)? If we did this with our country, we would be considered traitors or terrorists! If we did this with our relationships, we would be considered flakes and hypocrites! If we did this with our work, we would be fired for insubordination or theft! Why would we do this with the LORD, who loves and gives us grace? We have to remember that submission and biblical precepts are not meant to bring us down or lord it over us as a tyrannical dictator; rather, it is His love in action. God knows what is best, what works, and what creates good and lasting relationships. So, we should strive to live as imitators in all we do!
Wives are asked to submit, as in, give respect to their husbands. Husbands are asked to love their wives. Submit translates from a military term (Ephesians 5:22 Greek: hupotasso), which means “to place under” or “to subordinate” as a line relationship (1 Peter 3:1). This is not because of weakness or inferiority, or, that one is better than the other, but because God has placed, in the order of creation, the husband as head of the home, just as Christ is the head of the church. They have different roles, yet each one is equal in the sight of God! Thus, the husband loves and respects his wife and earns her devotion; the result is the continual, mutual respect that builds an effective, strong marriage relationship.
In ancient times, marriage contracts would advocate the husband to make his wife submit with absolute obedience. Paul’s asserting to his churches and readers to love, and because of love to submit, was very radical. To Paul, love was a duty (1 Corinthians 13). It was even considered weak by the macho mindsets of the times as well as with many people today. But, this is not weak; it is building the strength of a relationship and the bond of a family by creating a mutual partnership!
Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so? Amos 3:3
Submission is respect, and thus is not to exceed the parameters of the will of God or of love and righteousness. To prove this, submission is not an excuse to batter or put wives down in any way. The directive to husbands is even more daunting than what has been given to the wives! Husbands are called to love, which is much greater in importance and prominence than submission! Love is what sets the tone and standard for the relationship. Submission is also a response! Because the husband is loving, because the husband is caring, because the husband is putting his wife’s best interests forward, the wife submits, and he earns her devotion. It is the husband’s responsibility to set the tone of love and care! Keep in mind; this was called for in a time and culture that considered women lower than farm animals! It was taught in a culture where the “alpha†male (i.e. the lead man of the family), ruled in absolute dominance for order, organization, structure, protection, and community. The mandate to love (1 Corinthians 13:4-7) was, and still is to some, an extreme wakeup call that commands the husband to thoroughly exhibit all of the qualities of biblical character in his relationship with his wife.
The verb for love (Greek: agapete) designates a continuous routine of action all of the time, not just when we feel like it. Christ loved the church not because it was holy, but in order to make it holy! Thus, we are not only called to find the person who is best for us, but to work at keeping the relationship within the parameters of love, submission, and commitment. Even if you made that wrong choice through impatience, wrong thinking, lust, and/or sin, you still have the call and opportunity to make it right, to make it work with the mate you have! Remember that something special that got you together in the first place, that can be rekindled into a roaring fire.
The wife is in submission as a response to the husband’s love for her and his providing, as well as for having her best interest and care at heart. It is like when we respond to Christ with love and service because of His free gift of grace. We do not earn salvation for service; rather, it is a fruit of our gratitude. In the same way, this is how submission works. It is not to be forced, but offered freely in response to love. It is something we replicate as in responding in kindness so our response to each other is fueling the other’s response, and so forth. In this way, we will be escalating love and kindness instead of repression and dysfunction.
Christ and the church are the prime models for us in a lifelong commitment of monogamous marriage. He did not give up on us when things went from bad to worse; His grace, forgiveness, and perseverance came through. It is the model relationship for the home, for the love of children, and the fellowships and relationships we are to have. The church is the bride of Christ, and He loves her. Your spouse, or spouse to be, is your bride or groom where righteousness, love, commitment, and holiness are to be practiced and exercised in the best and fullest way possible for you (Revelation 21:1-2)!
I agree with “calimwade” She has wisdom in reuniting with her ex , we are imperfect human beings and we will make mistakes – and it takes strong Christian strength and knowledge to stay together and support one another – Marriage is not disposable as this “World” views it , I have been married for 19 years , and it is my 1st and only marriage , although we have had our definite problems through the years , we have stayed true to our Godly vows , We must understand to always put God 1st through Christ – then treat our spouses as Christ would treat “US” . I always visualize Our “Christ Jesus” standing beside my wife and Children whenever a difficult (or wonderful) matter is at hand and that certainly is an awesome way to approach any cituation . And I agree with “tag00chgo” – all you soul searching singles Must stay connected to a strong Church Family that is actively involved in the Community , God knows you better than anyone – stay tight with him , he is your true soul mate – he will connect you with a wonderful mate as long as you are indulged in his word “Daily”
So, I know all this to be true but, how can one do it on their own. My husband is not a Christian. (WARNING to those who unequally yoke with an unbeliever)(Must be why God said not to.) I have been fighting for my marriage for nearly all of our 17 years. I don’t have much left in me. I am praying for his soul desprately knowing that it is the only way for him to get to heaven. I am just tired of being hurt and watching our children be hurt. The unconditional love is definately one sided, and most of the time I feel like any love is one sided. He recently left me and our two children for a week. I prayed that if he was not going to change that the Lord would not let him come back and to just heal us from the wounds. He came back. I want the changes to at least start to be visible so I have some hope. The damage that has been done to the children is great. Not just from him leaving but from his choices over their lives. The rebellion in him is passed on to the kids. Now they are 13 & 14 and see no use for God as He just doesn’t want anyone to have “fun”. After all the years of marriage my husband has decided he wants the bar scene. Of course I won’t go and it is, in his opinion, because I don’t know how to have fun. We have never done this. Not even before we were married. But when given alternative suggestions(Get involved with church people and have fun,etc.) they are rejected.
calimwade, thank you for that piece of hope. May God bless you and your marriage.