The 14th of February is a special day where we display our love for one another. But for us husbands we should be doing this every single day to our wives. I am not saying to bring them cards, flowers, and chocolates every day, although they may enjoy them for a time. So how can we demonstrate in meaningful and practical ways Ephesians 5:25, sacrificial love?
First off, sacrificial love means we lose something, husbands we are going to miss whatever is on TV, or destressing right after work. Your wife has had a stressful day too, why not sacrifice some time and give her some time to relax before dinner by making dinner, or at least helping? If she cooks, you clean. I use dinner time because that always seems to be the most ‘chaotic’ time in my home.
Another thing is to be present and listen to your wife. Stop doing whatever it is that you are doing when she needs to talk and listen to her. Sometimes she may just need you to listen and not ‘fix’ anything, we men are created to be problem-solvers, so it is important to understand and ask if she needs anything from you.
Husbands and wives are one flesh, they are united together for one life. That means we each other for emotional support and encouragement. The root word for husband means to nurture, nurture means work, not sit on a couch at your leisure and let your wife cook your supper and pick up your dirty socks. We are right back to where we started sacrifice and sacrificial love. But what is the point?
Husbands if you love your wives and you want to see them blossom into more lovely women physically, spiritually, godly mothers and wives they need you. Just as Christ sacrificed Himself for the Church so that He might purify her and present her blameless and spotless one day so must you husbands, you must work to deny yourself, sacrifice yourself so that you can lift your wife up and lead her to a higher standard.
One last thing I have to say is this, husbands and men who are not yet married we are called to be leaders in the homes, we are to be the examples for our wives and our children. They see how we treat our wives, therefore our sons will treat their wives as we treat our wives and our daughters will seek men that model our behaviors. Do we want sons-in-law like us and do we want our sons to treat their wives like we treat ours?
I just gave you some hard questions to answer and I’ll give you a few more to ponder and answer, preferable answer together with your wife, she sees your behavior better than you do. Also, if you have children ask them what you do well and what you are not doing well at.
Is it a joy when I come home?
Am I an example for who my daughter should be looking to marry?
Iron Striking Iron 