How a husband is to love his wife

When a husband grows dissatisfied with his marriage, he’ll often look to his wife and ask himself, “What’s wrong with her?”  But what he needs to do is look at his own life and consider whether he has been loving his wife as he is called to.

The Bible teaches us the way a husband loves his wife is foundational to the well being of a marriage.

How is it that a husband is to love his wife?  He is to love his wife just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her (Eph.5:25).  A tall order, indeed, but one that when followed will cause a marriage to thrive according to God’s design.

But what does it mean for a husband to love his wife as Christ loved the church?

First, it means he is to love her unconditionally.  When Jesus laid down His life for His people, He did not do it because there was any loveliness in them. They were depraved and without interest in Him.  But God showed His love in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Rom.5:8)

It’s in the same unconditional way that husbands are to love their wives.  A husband is not to love his wife because of any certain qualities about her.  He is to love her without reason at all.  Even if she is selfish, manipulative, or cold toward Him.  And with God’s Spirit working in his heart, he can.