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Paul W. Powell.
The Bible is the greatest textbook on marital relations ever written. All other books are but amplifications, illustrations, and applications of the basic truths in the Bible.
In many places the Bible sets out the duties of a husband to his wife. Here they are as a good reminder to every husband.
1. Love her. The first and most often–mentioned responsibility of the husband is to love his wife (Ephesians 5:25). The kind of love that the Bible talks about is the kind of love that Jesus showed when he died for us on the cross. Real love puts the interests, desires, and wishes of the other person first. This is the way that husbands are to love their wives.
2. Be understanding. We are to be reasonable, sensible, and understanding of our wives (1 Peter 3:7). We are to try to see things from their point of view. We are to try to put ourselves in their place. There is no substitute for sweet reasonableness in marriage.
3. Support her. The Bible says that if a man does not provide materially for his family, then he has disowned the faith and is worse than a nonbeliever (1 Timothy 5:8).
4. Live joyfully with her. Marriage is to be a joy and a delight. The Bible teaches that the man is to enjoy life with the woman he loves all the days of his life (Ecclesiastes 9:9). There are no more valuable qualities than laughter, humor, and good-naturedness in the marriage relationship. Learn to enjoy every day together.
5. Avoid bitterness. An irritable, quarrelsome, fault-finding nature can destroy any relationship. It can change a marriage from made in heaven to hell on earth. It is so easy to become a sour, bitter, and sullen person. Don’t let it happen to your marriage (Colossians 3:19).
6. Assume leadership of the family. The husband is to be the head of the wife. This is not a privilege to be abused. It is a responsibility to be assumed. It means that the husband is to lead his family in all things, including spiritually.
At least one-half of the marital problems could be solved if husbands would treat their wives right. Our duty is clearly set out in the scriptures. Now let’s do it.