God’s Indestructible Plan for Marriage: Perfect Roles

Last updated on: October 5, 2018 at 7:00 am by Jimmy Evans

God’s Indestructible Plan for Marriage: Perfect Roles 2018-10-01T06:18:50-06:00 Jimmy Evans

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

God’s plan for marriage is found in Ephesians 5. This is the most revelatory text in the Bible about marriage and the roles of husbands and wives. But I’ve found that, while most people like what it has to say about their spouses, they don’t necessarily like what it says about them.

Here’s the text. To wives, Paul writes this: “Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord” (Eph. 5:22). To husbands, Paul writes “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Eph. 5:25).

Every woman loves the idea of having a sacrificial, sensitive husband who nourishes and cherishes her. And men? If a man knows one scripture in the Bible, he knows the one about submission. We might joke about sensitive men and submissive wives, but I want you to know that this is God’s plan for marriage. It’s perfect.

Why? One reason is because it makes us more attractive to our spouse.

Submission, for a woman, is about respect and honor. It’s not about domination. It’s not about being mousy or being a doormat. But it is about showing gentleness and a godly spirit instead of aggression or negativity. The Bible says a gentle and quiet spirit is precious and attractive in the sight of God.

It’s also attractive to men. The number-one need that a man has is the need to be honored. Submission by respecting and honoring your husband gives a woman the key to a man’s heart.

Likewise, the number-one need for women is security. For husbands, loving their wives with a Christlike love means being committed to meeting her needs and making her feel secure.

One way to do this—and this is what Paul mentions in Eph. 5:25—is to love her sacrificially. A man who sacrifices for his wife and serves her becomes much more attractive to her. God wired women to respond that way. Not based on exterior appearance, but based on how we help around the house or spend time with the kids.

When we do these things, we are not just fulfilling the marital roles God has for us, but we are making ourselves more attractive to our spouse. Any man will not be attracted to a dishonoring woman. Any woman will not be attracted to a self-interested man.

That attraction isn’t just physical or sexual, either. When we fulfill the roles in Ephesians 5, we become more willing to open our hearts to each other. We experience deeper intimacy. We move forward along the path to a strong, godly, indestructible marriage.

The Intimate Marriage

Previous Post

October 4, 2018

The Photos That Hang on our Hearts

Next Post

October 6, 2018 When You Have a Controlling Husband

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category 7 Secrets of Successful Families Dave and Ashley Willis Every Great Marriage I Changed My Mind Lifelong Love Affair Love and Communication Marriage on the Rock Our Secret Paradise The Intimate Marriage The Keys to Sexual Fulfillment in Marriage Uncategorized When Life Hurts

Select a Month August 2022 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What is the Jewish "coming of age" ceremony?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Circumcision Sabbath Passover Bar Mitzvah