Twelve Commandments For Husbands
Wednesday, 30 July 2008 20:43 Reuel Lemmons
- Thou shalt love thy wife and make of thy marriage an exclusive relationship so that thy wife shall never have occasion to doubt thy love nor occasion for jealousy or lack of trust (Consider: Ephesians 5:25; Mark 10:9; Genesis 2:24).
- Although thou shalt never completely understand her, thou shalt make a life time effort to understand thy wife (Consider: 1 Peter 2:24).
- Thou shalt talk with thy wife when thou comest home from thy work, when thou sittest in thine house, when thou liest down and when thou risest up. Thou shalt even, at times, turn off the TV (or computer) to assure her she is more cherished than thy favorite TV program (Consider: Ephesians 5:2).
- Thou shalt not talk down to, nor belittle, nor use sarcasm and ridicule toward her, for her sense of self worth is much dependent upon your appreciation of her (Consider: 1 Corinthians 13:4; Philippians 2:14; Romans 12:10).
- Thou shalt listen to thy wife, asking for her advice and opinions, recognizing her mental abilities and talents (Consider: 1 Corinthians 13:5).
- Thou shalt not lord it over thy wife, recognizing the two of you are equal before God and that leadership in the home does not mean dictatorship. It does not mean being waited on or having the best piece of chicken; it means moral, financial and spiritual responsibilities (Consider: Ephesians 5:21; Colossians 3:19).
- Thou shalt see that thy wife is thy best friend; thou shalt share affection and confidences with thy wife and long to be in her presence (Consider: Ecclesiastes 9:9).
- Thou shalt help thy wife in all those ways that sacrificial love would help, giving her of thy time, money, attention, and affection—yea, even washing the dishes as needed (Consider: Galatians 6:2).
- Thou shalt accept thy wife as she is; thou shalt not expect perfection, but forgive her mistakes and confess thine own to her (Consider: Ephesians 4:32).
- Thou shalt practice tenderness as an essential emotion, realizing that sex is a gift of God which expresses and enhances love. Sex is giving joy as well as receiving it. Selfishness erodes sexual joy (Consider: 1 Corinthians 7:4; Ephesians 5:28).
- Thou shalt, in some way each day, show thy wife “I need you,” and “I appreciate you,” and “I want to help you.”
- And, should thy marriage become trying and seemingly an endurance contest, thou shalt not give up. Thou shalt "bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, endure all things" (Consider: 1 Corinthians 13:7).