Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 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. (NASB) Ephesians 5:22-23   Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her . . . (NASB) Ephesians 5:25   For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands. Thus Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear. (NASB) 1 Peter 3:5-6   You husbands likewise, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with a weaker vessel, since she is a woman; and grant her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. (NASB) 1 Peter 3:7   A biblical marriage is one in which the wife is submissive to her husband (Eph. 5:22-23; 1 Peter 5:5-6) and her husband loves and honors her (Eph. 5:25; 1 Peter 5:7). Christian marriages should look like the picture of Jesus Christ and the church. Spiritually, Jesus is in control and the church submits. Jesus is in charge whether we like it or not.     “And why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? (NASB) Luke 6:46   But a marriage that is experiencing a power struggle does not look like Ephesians 5:22! Today, some teach and even preach the concept of mutual submission: a wife submits to her husband and her husband equally submits to his wife. The effect of this teaching is that the wife does not submit to her husband and God's divine pattern for marriage is ignored. This teaching also ignores 1 Peter 3:5-6 where Sarah called Abraham "Lord." That is the same word we use for our Lord - Jesus Christ. The concept is one of submission.      The husband is to respond to his wife with honor. How should this work out in our marriages? Here is a suggestion. The husband and wife should always seek complete agreement on important decisions. If the issue is unimportant, then either the husband or the wife should have the freedom to make the decision. Determining what decisions belong to whom may require the husband's veto. However, he should rarely use it. God has called him to love his wife and give her honor as a fellow heir of life. In fact, 1 Peter 3:7 warns a husband to do this if he wants his prayers answered.   Conclusion: How should a husband respond to a wife who wants to leave? He should forgive, love and honor her. He should not agree to the divorce unless he really, truly believes she is an unbeliever. He should seek real biblical counseling. There are two books that I would recommend:   Book Title Author Anger is A Choice Tim LaHaye The Marriage Builder Dr. Larry Crabb   Above all else, the husband (and wife) should pray (Eph. 6:18), read God's Word regularly (Deut. 17:18-19), confess his sins (1 John 1:9), and ask the Holy Spirit to take control of his life every day, hour and minute (Gal. 5:16; Eph. 5:18).      It is not biblical for a wife to divorce or separate from her husband for financial reasons.         < Back
	Home | Logo | Search For God | Weekly Study | Q & A | Other Studies Copyright © Like The Master Ministries. All Rights Reserved. Q & A