A Godly Husband, part 2

Today is the second part of the series on what it means to be a Godly Husband, as defined in the Scriptures. Yesterday we saw that a Godly Husband is to be a Learner. Today we'll see that a Godly husband is a lover.

I. A Godly Husband is a Learner
II. A Godly Husband is a Lover

Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her. So we see here that if husbands are called to love our wives just as Christ loved the church. That comparative clause (just as) introduces the standard by which something can be measured. In other words, you want to assess how well you are loving your wife, biblically? Then compare it to how Christ loved the church.

It must be noted that our American culture does not help us here as far as learning "how" to love our wives. The popular view of our culture is this macho, sexual conquest attitude. Let me take her to bed and then I'll show her how much I love her. This, however, is far from the biblical concept of love. For anyone can take, but the biblical idea of love is one of giving.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave...

Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself...

Ephesians 5:25 5 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave...

True biblical love is defined as giving. In fact, true biblical love is the real test of masculinity. A Godly Husband is a lover who gives himself unconditionally with NO expectation of receiving anything in return. Did you hear that?

Hear it again, A Godly Husband is a lover who gives himself unconditionally with NO expectation of receiving anything in return.

So, then, how does a husband express this love to his wife by giving?

(1) By loving as Christ loved (Eph 5:25)
(2) By loving First just as Christ loved us first (1 John 4:19)
(3) By loving MOST (by giving himself up for her; Eph 5:25a)
(4) By loving unmistakably (in deed and in truth; 1 John 3:18)
(5) By loving as much as we men love our own bodies (Eph 5:28)
(6) By loving in a way that is forgiving and in a way that overcomes wrong (Col 3:19)

This is the second requirement, biblically, of a Godly husband. So husbands, assess yourselves. How are you doing? Are you Learning your wife? Are you Loving your wife?