Husbands Worship God as You Love Your Wives, Part 1

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:7

You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

Insights:  Sunday I told the congregation of FBC Bowling Green that I did not know if Peter wrote six verses to the ladies and one verse to the men because the ladies had more areas they needed to work on or if it was because the men were just not intellectually capable of receiving more information than one verse.  I will let you be the judge of the reason for such a contrast in volume regarding the material Peter wrote.  With that being said, there are still four things within this singular verse that help us to understand our worship roles as husbands.  Warren Wiersbe really helps us understand these four areas in his commentary.  The first is the physical presence of the man.  Peter wrote, “…live with your wives….”  In other sermons we have discussed the fatherless generation.  This term refers to the number of fathers that have literally abandoned their families.  Men, when you married your wives, you became one flesh and this is not just referring to the sexual act of consummation of the marriage vows.  You need to be present for the duration of the marriage until death do you part.  The second area in which men worship the Lord in marriage is through the intellect.  Peter wrote, “…live with your wives in an understanding way….”  In other words, are you a student of your wife?  What I mean by that is do you study her?  Have you come to realize just how special and unique she is?  You can spend your entire life learning the truths about what makes your wife your wife.  The problem is that most men have stopped pursuing their spouses; and as a result, have begun to take them for granted.  Men, let me give you a clue as to your predominant way of learning about your wife, beyond the mere observational aspect of study.  The clue is to become a great communicator.  In my premarital counseling sessions I tell the couples that if they can get this one aspect figured out, then all of the others really do fall to way side, and that is a fact.  Men, remember, this subject is about worship to our Lord in the realm of our families and specifically in the realm of our wives.  Worship the Lord today as you pursue your spouse! 

Questions:

1.  Husbands, are you actually physically present in the marriage?

2.  What have you recently learned about your spouse that you did not know until recently?

Prayer: Father, all too often I take my spouse for granted and do not strive to know more about her.  Grow me in Your grace to be the husband who is not only physically present in the relationship, but is also constantly striving to know more about what makes my wife who she is.  Amen.