Husbands: Duties of, not to Interfere With Their Duties to Christ
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In the Christian faith, the role of a husband is both a profound responsibility and a sacred calling. Scripture provides guidance on how husbands are to conduct themselves, ensuring that their duties to their wives and families do not interfere with their ultimate allegiance to Christ.

Primary Allegiance to Christ

The Bible emphasizes that a believer's primary allegiance is to Christ. In Matthew 10:37 , Jesus states, "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me." This principle extends to the marital relationship, where a husband's love for Christ must supersede all other affections. This does not diminish the love and commitment owed to one's spouse but rather places it within the context of a higher divine order.

Love and Sacrifice

Ephesians 5:25 instructs, "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her." This command calls husbands to a sacrificial love that mirrors Christ's love for the church. Such love is selfless and prioritizes the spiritual and emotional well-being of the wife. However, this duty must be balanced with the husband's commitment to Christ, ensuring that his love for his wife does not lead him away from his spiritual responsibilities.

Spiritual Leadership

Husbands are called to be spiritual leaders within their families. Ephesians 5:23 states, "For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, His body, of which He is the Savior." This leadership is not authoritarian but is characterized by service, guidance, and nurturing the family's faith. A husband's leadership should encourage his family to grow in their relationship with Christ, aligning with his own commitment to follow Jesus.

Avoiding Idolatry

A husband's devotion to his wife must not become idolatrous. Colossians 3:2 advises, "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." While the marital relationship is deeply important, it should not overshadow a husband's devotion to God. The danger of idolatry arises when any earthly relationship or duty takes precedence over one's relationship with Christ.

Balancing Responsibilities

1 Corinthians 7:32-34 highlights the tension between marital duties and devotion to the Lord: "I want you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he can please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world, how he can please his wife, and his interests are divided." This passage acknowledges the divided interests of a married man but encourages husbands to maintain a focus on their spiritual duties.

Prayer and Discernment

To ensure that their duties as husbands do not interfere with their duties to Christ, men are encouraged to seek wisdom through prayer and discernment. James 1:5 promises, "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." Through prayer, husbands can seek guidance on how to balance their responsibilities effectively.

In summary, the duties of a husband are to be carried out with a heart fully devoted to Christ. By prioritizing their relationship with the Lord, husbands can fulfill their marital roles in a manner that honors both their wives and their Savior.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Luke 14:26
If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Matthew 19:29
And every one that has forsaken houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundred times, and shall inherit everlasting life.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Letter xv. Social and Relative Duties.
... wives be in subjection to your own husbands." There can ... Footnote M: This direction
would not be proper ... 2. There are special duties growing out of your relation ...
/.../letter xv social and relative.htm

Paul in Corinth.
... discharging, as he had opportunity, the duties of the ... Parents, husbands, wives, friends,
and acquaintance! ... laws of the empire did not interfere, but protected ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture xxi paul in corinth.htm

Of Civil Government.
... be less bound in duty to their parents, and wives to their husbands? ... of all is not
to look behind them, that is, not to inquire into the duties of one ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 20 of civil government.htm

Third Sunday after Easter
... for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they ... forcibly to urge us
to the performance of our duties. ... He implies that if we do not resist carnal ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol ii/third sunday after easter.htm

Gambling, Card-Playing
... The novice at cards and dice, husbands and sons of ... is found to unfit you for religious
duties, or to ... on your enjoyment, the pleasures you can not thank God for ...
/.../questionable amusements and worthy substitutes/iii gambling card-playing.htm

The Raising of the Dead.
... restored son go about the duties of the ... fathers, sisters, brothers, wives, children,
husbands"who shall ... Christianity must not, could not interfere with the ...
/.../macdonald/miracles of our lord/viii the raising of the.htm

The Evolution of Early Congregationalism the Stone which the ...
... in our hearts the estimate of our duties with love ... agreeing with and wishing to join
their husbands and fathers ... a church wherein membership was not by birthright ...
/.../chapter i the evolution of.htm

A Case of Conscience Resolved
... and order in which such and such duties must be ... Their husbands and they are one flesh,
and are no more ... Here you may be, and not make ordinances interfere, and ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a case of conscience resolved.htm

Period I: the Imperial State Church of the Undivided Empire, or ...
... no application of this benefit to husbands and wives ... hastened to abandon his most
important duties; and profit ... Taurinus, that such men could not be corrected ...
/.../ayer/a source book for ancient church history/period i the imperial state.htm

Christian Behavior
... Teaching husbands, wives, parents, children, masters, servants, etc., how to walk
so as ... 4. Take heed that thou do not neglect family duties among them ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/christian behavior.htm

Resources
What does the Bible say about being a Christian wife? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about an unhappy marriage? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about women pastors? | GotQuestions.org

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Subtopics

Husbands

Husbands Love

Husbands Role

Husbands: Bad: Ahasuerus

Husbands: Bad: Solomon

Husbands: Duties of, not to Interfere With Their Duties to Christ

Husbands: Duty of, to Wives: Not to Leave Them, Though Unbelieving

Husbands: Duty of, to Wives: To be Faithful to Them

Husbands: Duty of, to Wives: To Comfort Them

Husbands: Duty of, to Wives: To Consult With Them

Husbands: Duty of, to Wives: To Dwell With Them for Life

Husbands: Duty of, to Wives: To Love Them

Husbands: Duty of, to Wives: To Regard Them As Themselves

Husbands: Duty of, to Wives: To Respect Them

Husbands: Good: Elkanah

Husbands: Good: Isaac

Husbands: Have Authority Over Their Wives

Husbands: should Have But One Wife

Unsaved Husbands

Related Terms

Brother-in-law (5 Occurrences)

Fulfill (80 Occurrences)

Brother's (46 Occurrences)

Marry (48 Occurrences)

Duty (90 Occurrences)

Kin (18 Occurrences)

Nabal (18 Occurrences)

Refuseth (22 Occurrences)

Refuses (21 Occurrences)

Refusing (21 Occurrences)

Deceased (8 Occurrences)

Perpetuate (2 Occurrences)

Boaz (25 Occurrences)

Brother (402 Occurrences)

Relationships (1 Occurrence)

Perform (155 Occurrences)

Sarai (13 Occurrences)

Sarah (38 Occurrences)

Dies (71 Occurrences)

Establish (133 Occurrences)

Widow (71 Occurrences)

Raise (175 Occurrences)

Delight (213 Occurrences)

Husband's (19 Occurrences)

Open (586 Occurrences)

Herself (121 Occurrences)

Abroad (120 Occurrences)

Family (438 Occurrences)

Willing (152 Occurrences)

Divorce (18 Occurrences)

Vowed (34 Occurrences)

Valour (66 Occurrences)

Zeruiah (25 Occurrences)

Na'omi (21 Occurrences)

Obligation (17 Occurrences)

Onan (6 Occurrences)

Obligates (4 Occurrences)

Levirate

Wife (437 Occurrences)

Rebekah (31 Occurrences)

Ribbons (1 Occurrence)

Elimelech (6 Occurrences)

Elim'elech (6 Occurrences)

Disalloweth (2 Occurrences)

Doubts (15 Occurrences)

Michal (18 Occurrences)

Marriage (74 Occurrences)

Marries (20 Occurrences)

Propitious (12 Occurrences)

Prohibition (1 Occurrence)

Pregnant (33 Occurrences)

Beloved (117 Occurrences)

Bloody (19 Occurrences)

Bo'az (24 Occurrences)

Affinity (4 Occurrences)

Accordingly (34 Occurrences)

Accounts (14 Occurrences)

Aretas (1 Occurrence)

Acquaintance (16 Occurrences)

Abigail (18 Occurrences)

Stigmatized (1 Occurrence)

Sister-in-law (1 Occurrence)

Adultery (49 Occurrences)

Instantly (39 Occurrences)

Naomi (25 Occurrences)

Kinsman (29 Occurrences)

Responsible (242 Occurrences)

Produce (140 Occurrences)

Strange (234 Occurrences)

Taste (46 Occurrences)

Bond (32 Occurrences)

During (182 Occurrences)

Fact (98 Occurrences)

Hush (7 Occurrences)

Pledge (55 Occurrences)

Gate (248 Occurrences)

Doubt (49 Occurrences)

Vow (49 Occurrences)

Stranger (152 Occurrences)

Husbands: Bad: Solomon
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