The Role Of The Husband

THE ROLE OF THE HUSBAND

PURPOSE

In this study, we will discuss the biblical role for husbands.

OPENER

Wives, in what way is your husband like your earthly father?

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LESSON

1. HUSBANDS ARE TO BE SERVANT-LEADERS.

How is a husband’s position as a leader illustrated in (Ephesians 5:23)?

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A husband leads the wife as Christ leads the church.

What does it mean that the husband is the “head” of the wife?

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The word “head” in Scripture refers to authority.

We must understand however that neither man nor woman is superior to the other in being. Men and women are equal in God’s eyes. There is an essential partnership between men and women. Neither is independent of the other. Both are from the other, and the relationship that exists between them has come from God (1 Corinthians 11:11-12). There is neither male nor female in God’s eyes. He sees both men and women as one, each as significant as the other (Galatians 3:28).

When God talks about man being the head of the woman, He is not talking about ability or worth, competence or value, brilliance or advantage. God is talking about function and order within an organization. Every organization has to have a head for it to be operated in an efficient and orderly manner. There are no greater organizations than God’s universe, His church, and His Christian family. Within God’s order of things there is a partnership, but every partnership must have a head, and God has ordained that man is the head of the partnership.

All in all, the husband is the ultimate authority in the family. The wife is to be submissive to that authority just as the church is to be submissive to Christ. So long as she and the rest of the family live by this rule, the family experiences love, joy, and peace—orderliness—and it fulfills its function and purpose on earth. This, of course, assumes that the husband is fulfilling his part in the family. As in any organization, each member must do his part for the organization to be orderly and accomplish its purpose.

What additional insights can we gain about leadership from (Mark 10:42-45)? What is servant-leadership?

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Dictatorial leadership is the opposite of a servant-leader. A husband should look for ways to serve instead of control. He leads not drives.

A servant-leader will take care of his family and lead them in the ways of God.

List some practical ways in which you can demonstrate servant-leadership to your wife and family in the coming weeks?

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2. HUSBANDS ARE TO LOVE THEIR WIVES.

Describe the type of love that husbands are to have for their wives (Ephesians 5:25-27)?

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The love which the husband is to have for his wife is the very love of God Himself (agape love). Agape love is a selfless and unselfish love, a giving and sacrificial love. It is the love of the mind and will as well as of the heart. It is not only a love of affection and feelings; it is a love of the will and commitment. It is a love that wills and commits itself to love a person. It is the love that works for the highest good of the person loved.

Just imagine! What would happen in most marriages if the husband so loved his wife, loved her...with a selfless and unselfish love…with a giving and sacrificial love…with a love of the will as well as of the heart…with a love of commitment as well as of affection.

One thing that would happen in most marriages would be this: the wife would melt in the husband’s arms and willingly accept his authority as the head of the family.

Husbands are to love their wives as "Christ loved the church.” Explain this meaning.

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The standard of the husband’s love is the love of Christ for the church. The love of Christ for the church can be described in one simple statement: Christ gave Himself for the church. Christ loved the church so much that He gave Himself—sacrificed Himself totally—gave all He was and had for it. This is the love the husband is to have for his wife.

Husbands are to love their wives as they love “their own bodies” (Ephesians 5:28). What does this mean?

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The love which the husband is to have for his wife is the very same love he has for his own body. This is a startling statement. Note again what it says: the husband is to love his wife just as much as he loves his own body. This means that he is to nourish and cherish his wife as he does his own body.

The word “nourish” (ektrephei) means to feed, clothe, nurture, and look after until she is mature in the marriage and then to continue nourishing her as long as she lives.

The word “cherish” (thalpei) means to hold ever so dear within the heart; to treat with warmth, tenderness, care, affection, and appreciation.

How does God describe love in (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)?

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Patient, kind, not jealous, not bragging, not arrogant, not selfish, ect.

Which of the preceding descriptions of love does your wife need most? How can you demonstrate that love to her?

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3. HUSBANDS ARE TO HONOR THEIR WIVES.

Explain what it means to "honor" your wife (1 Peter 3:7 KJV)?

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The word “honor” (timen) means to “value; to esteem; to prize; to count as precious.” A husband is to count his wife as a precious gem, as a prize of extreme value. He is to highly esteem her, set her up on a pedestal before his very eyes.

The husband is to honor his wife as the weaker vessel or partner. By nature, the wife is just more delicate and frail. This means that the husband is...to protect her…to be the primary provider…to take the lead…to oversee the family and its welfare.

What is the consequence of a husband not honoring his wife?

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Failure to honor the wife hinders the prayers of the husband. God will not answer the prayers of any husband who dishonors his wife, no matter who he is or how much he professes Christ. What God hears is the sigh of the wife, not the prayers of a mean and domineering husband. The husband can cry out to God all he wants, but God’s back is turned away from him and toward the sigh of the wife. God is going to hear the broken and contrite heart, not the prayers of the arrogant and dominating spirit. Both husband and wife must love one another and live as God says to live, both fulfilling their duty to one another, if they wish God to answer their prayers.

What are some steps you can take to honor your spouse?

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CONCLUSION:

1. In the Bible, God has provided many roles for husbands.

a. Husbands are to be servant-leaders.

b. Husbands are to love their wives.

c. Husbands are to honor their wives.

2. This morning, we have examined only a few of the biblical roles of husbands. I hope and pray that we can become the husband that God desires us to be.