Paul admonishes husbands to
love their wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself for it. He
admonishes wives to reverence their husbands. As a general rule, it is an easy
thing for a man to love a woman who truly reverences him; and it is an easy
thing for a woman to reverence a man who truly loves her.
"Husbands love your wives." Treat your
wives with tender and compassionate thoughtfulness. Care for them, protect
them, provide for them, and nourish them. Be kind and considerate of them.
Cherish them above all earthly concerns and relationships. Let your speech,
your actions, and your attitude toward your wives reflect a self-sacrificing,
self-denying love for them. Let the rule of your conduct in your home be
love--forgiving, kind, thoughtful, patient, gentle love.
"Let the wife see that she reverence her
husband." A godly, believing woman will hold her husband in high esteem,
reverencing him as her lord. She will honor her husband in her thoughts, in her
speech, and in her conduct, thinking well of him, speaking well about him, and
acting well toward him. The great test of a woman's love for her husband is her
willing subjection and obedience to him in all things.
These
two things will secure peace and happiness in your homes. A man loving his wife
and a woman reverencing her husband can overcome all other obstacles together.