Who is Number One!

How is my marriage supposed to be any good if I don’t make my spouse number one in my life? Our spouses are a clear number two on the priority list and that needs to never waver. When we conduct our marriages in the way God designed them, we shouldn’t have to do anything for our spouse to love us. Instead, we want to do all the things for our spouses because of the love we have for them. We don’t need to check all the boxes and perform all the tasks for God to love us, He loves us anyways, in spite of our lack. We want to do all the things and check all the boxes because of the love and the relationship we have with God.

One of the most hated and misunderstood verses of scripture when it comes to marriage is Ephesians 5:22 - Wives submit to your husbands. Most will read that and think it is an archaic way of thinking. Women read that and think “I am not submitting to anyone, have you met my husband.” And men read it and think “Yeah, my wife should submit to me, I am the man of the house.” We just leave it at that, and that scripture is taken so far out of context. The verse right before that says, “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” When we truly understand this section of the Bible in its entirety, it is putting Christ first and your spouse second. Men, your wives will gladly submit to your leadership in the house when you have submitted yourself to the Lord first. Because you have died to your old self, your own wants, your own ideas, your own ways. You are like Christ, and Jesus gave first, forgave first, served first, loved first, and put everyone else first. It will be easy for your wife to submit to you because you are loving her just as Christ loved the Church, and spoiler alert, He gave up His life for the Church.

Men, are you willing to give up your life for your wife? And I’m not just talking about taking a bullet for your wife. I’m talking about giving up Friday night with the boys, giving up golf, giving up hunting, fishing, video games, giving up all your own wants and desires and what you think are your needs for your wife. And Wives are you willing to do the same for your husband?