Bible Study Notes on Being a Husband Part 6

1 Timothy 5:8  But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

 

-It becomes very clear to us here in this passage that it indeed the man’s responsibility to provide provision in the home for his family. There is intense and strong language for those who shirk their duty and let their family suffer. It is a faithful thing to work hard and provide sustenance to the best of your ability for your family. Have the foresight to see ahead and set aside some savings and invest wisely with Kingdom purposes in mind. Don’t ever, as a Christian, be considered worse than an unbeliever. Don’t deny the faith.

-Pronoew (Provide)-

1.      to perceive before, foresee

2. to provide, think of beforehand
1. to provide for one
2. to take thought for, care for a thing

Bible Study Notes on Being a Husband Part 5

1 Corinthians 7:1-5  Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2 But because of immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband. 3 The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

 

-We see here the principle of morality in the marriage relationship that God has ordained. We see as well as the principle of mutual submission here, which Paul teaches on in other passages as well (Ephesians 5:21, Colossians 3:18-19). The depriving aspects that listed here have to do with physical and emotional withholdings that sometimes rip apart and tear down relationships that are sanctified by God for holy union. Paul says that this should never be in the marriage relationship as we look out for the other’s interest and keep them satisfied in fulfilling their desires out of a heart of pure agape love. This is our mutual duty and preserves the bonds we have covenanted at the altar of marriage. Both God and Satan know our passions and lack of self-control, so make sure that intimacy between your partner remains constant and faithful with vibrancy even after such things as fasting and times of intense prayer. We should notice too that these times of spiritual seeking where priority is given to abstain from physical and emotional bonds are by agreement in the marriage relationship. The union is paramount in all things and should be upheld. This guards against temptation by the enemy.

Bible Study Notes on Being a Husband Part 4

Colossians 3:19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them.

 

-The Christian family involves mutual submission as we see in this passage by the grace of God. Subordinating our own personal desires for the good of the loved one enables us to forgive and have complete self-control, which are fruits of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:32, Galatians 5:23).

-What does not being embittered (disillusioned, bitter, resentful, sour, disaffected, cynical, estranged, poisoned) look like in our life? Are there areas we need to work so that we protect against this spirit that fractures and splits our love for each other?

Bible Study Notes on Being a Husband Part 3

1 Peter 3:7-9  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. 8 To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; 9 not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.

 

-How many husbands, do you think, in our society truly try to understand their spouse? Daily routine is what eventually makes up a lifetime of joy or sorrow. We as men are called to headship in the home with our wives as weaker, more dependent by nature, vessels who necessarily look to us to be the man God needs us to be. We are to be their “knights in shining armor” who protect, provide (1 Timothy 5:8), and keep them with a sense of security. This passage talks about showing our wives honor. This denotes showing them favor, giving them a good name or public esteem (in other words improving their reputation), extending privilege, and even providing a superior standing. This all requires sacrifice on our part as men. The Lord expects you to be that kind of husband to your wife. It reflects His love for His church by way of earthly example when we do this (Ephesians 6:25-32). Our prayers will be hindered from power and effectiveness if our relationships in the home do not reflect the love of Christ. Be at peace and have a giving spirit.

-Do you want your home to be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, humble in spirit, and not keeping score of wrongs (speaking blessing, not cursing)? Of course we do. We were called to this very purpose as lights in the world that possess the life of Christ through His Holy Spirit in us. This is the secret to real blessing that we can inherit as devoted followers of the excellent ways of the Lord.

Bible Study Notes on Being a Husband Part 2

Genesis 3:17  Then to Adam He said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat from it'; Cursed is the ground because of you; In toil you will eat of it All the days of your life.

 

-Adam let Eve usurp his authority in the family order, which God had ordained and orchestrated. Notice the Lord’s first words to Adam. Here lies the reason for his judgment. Rather than listening to God and what He commanded, Adam decided that he would listen to the voice of his wife over God. This was a tragic mistake then and it is for us now if we listen to our wives when we know God has told us as men differently. This is certainly not to say that we shouldn’t listen to our wives when they have heard from the Lord and want to give us His wisdom through the discernment He gives to them. Don’t get confused on this issue. This is willful disobedience before the Lord that we know without a shadow of a doubt. Adam had a chance to save his family and the whole human race from the fall, but he choose to disobey and listen to the wrong voice, the voice of being a coward and apathetic in his leadership of the home. When he needed to be courageous and authoritative, he capitulated to the voice of his wife and went along with sin.

Bible Study Notes on Being a Husband Part 1

Ephesians 5:23-33  -  For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. 28 So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; 29 for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, 30 because we are members of His body. 31 FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH. 32 This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.

 

-First, note husbands are to be the head and savior of the household just like Christ was the Head and Savior of the church body. Love is the essential ingredient here. Love will lead to giving up our rights in selfless sacrifice for the sanctification (to set apart for a sacred purpose, to set free from sin, consecration, purifying, blessing) of our home. Notice the nourishing and cherishing aspects of the man’s role in the family structure. God has wired man to take on this responsibility and role as members of His church body in the home. The other admonition here is to leave and cleave (Ephesians 5:31). Too many households are interrupted by former father’s and mother’s unduly imposing their influence and power over a new situation. The one new flesh takes a new dynamic that is autonomous in subjection to the Lord and no longer under the authority of previous parents. This doesn’t mean that we don’t receive help and advice from our parents any longer, but they do need to understand that their interference with a newly formed family can undermine and interrupt the institution that God has ordained in disruptive and profound ways.