Easy to love

In an age of “looking out for #1,” power struggles in marriage are too often a couple’s demise, and divorce is the tragic result.

God has the perfect plan for how we ought to treat one another in marriage, but one area in particular seems be a source of controversy. From my experience of talking to other women, especially young women, Ephesians 5:22 is a verse that tends to make many of us uncomfortable: “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.”

I suspect the verse has been abused and misunderstood by a good number of men over the years. I also suspect women’s changing role in society has made submission a dirty word in any context.

But let’s skip over to verse 25 of Ephesians 5: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.”

God makes a great demand on men in regard to how they treat their wives. Stop and think of what God is requiring from husbands.

If a man loves his wife the way Christ loved the church, his love will be sacrificial, meaning he will put her needs before his own. He will attend to her welfare at all costs. He will always do what is best for her. He will build her up through encouragement and want to see her content and joyful. He will provide for her and protect her even to the point of giving his own life!

Wow, if a man loves a woman like that, I can’t imagine that submission would be any big deal. After all, a husband who loves his wife like Christ loves the church is not one who is going be harsh and cruel or make unreasonable, selfish demands on her, right?

God’s plan for marriage is that it would be two people “submitting to one another in the fear of God” (Eph. 5:21). His plan is that marriage would be a beautiful representation of Christ’s relationship with His bride, the church. His plan, when a husband and wife cooperate with it, means that love will last a lifetime.