How to Frustrate Your Wife

A few weeks ago, I received an e-mail with a subject line that really caught my attention.  It was from FamilyLife Ministries and the subject was, "How to Frustrate Your Wife."

They said there were two easy ways to frustrate your wife: 

1. Fail to love her

2. Fail to lead her

Thoughts on Loving Your Wife

You must love your wife to the extent that she has no doubt about it.

When shopping for greeting cards, we regularly see cards that say, “I know I haven't said it as often as I should…."  A Christian husband should never be in a position to buy that card!  We should be confident that we are regularly speaking words of love and affection.

Recently, as I’ve been thinking a lot about missions and the multi-cultural church, I’ve been reminded of a strong concept about serving and loving others.  You can’t show up in another country and just plan American-style events and expect a different culture to feel loved and served.  You have to get to know the culture and serve in a way that speaks to them.  It’s the exact same concept overseas and in our own households. 

In case you haven’t noticed, men and women tend to think differently.  That different thinking also goes into the way we show our love to each other.  We have to make sure we are showing our love in a way that speaks her language, not ours.

Thoughts on Leading Your Wife

Christian wives hope their husbands will be godly leaders.  It means taking the initiative in leading the family in engagement with God's Word both in the local church and at home.  It is our responsibility to shepherd our flock by providing for them, protecting them, caring for them, and helping them grow.

In his sermon last Sunday, Pastor Dave reminded us that one qualification of an elder is to be someone who can lead their family.  He referred to I Timothy 3:5 which says, “If a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?^”

Ephesians 5:25 challenges us to “love our wives just as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for it.”  That’s quite a high calling!  But I hope all the husbands that read this today can be encouraged and challenged to do just that.