| “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church…” |
| —Ephesians 5:25a |
You wouldn’t think that husbands would need to be told to love their wives and how to love them. And yet, the Apostle Paul, an unmarried man, had observed enough interactions between husbands and their wives to feel he must offer these words recorded in Ephesians 5:25-26:
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word...
Husbands, love your wives with a completely self-sacrificing, selfless love. What could be clearer?
More than a decade ago, a famous theologian and professor retired early from his position at a southern seminary. He was at the top of his profession and had many more years in which to contribute to the lives of hundreds of pastors and Christian educators. Yet, he turned his back on the fame and success that he had earned through diligent study and much hard work. He retired so that he could stay home and care for his wife of 40 years, who had been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease.
Many marveled at his decision. After all, he could have placed her in the memory unit of a personal care facility. Yes, that would cost a great deal of money. But in fact, if he would divorce her, the state would pay for her care.
He told his colleagues at the seminary that his wife had sacrificed for many years to pay their bills while he made his way through graduate school, so he could become a professor. He was not going to abandon her in her time of need.
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her …”
Husbands, the instruction is clear. So, do it.
Based on a blog originally posted on Thursday, July 21, 2016
