Some Rules for Successful Marriage

In a description Paul gives of Christ’s relationship with His Church, He brought in the marriage relationship:

“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

“For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

“Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also love the church, and gave himself for it;

 “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

“That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

“So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

“For no man ever yet hateth his own flesh; but norisheth and cherisheth it even as the Lord the church:

“For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. “For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

“This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

“Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband” (Ephesians 5:22- 33).

The Bible teaches that the husband is the head of the house, and it also teaches that the husband should love his wife even as his own body. If the man who is the head of his house truly loves his wife as himself, he will not be hard on her. He will not abuse her or belittle her. He and his wife are one in all things, even in reputation. If he loves his wife, he will speak well of her. He will be kind and considerate, and a help to her. Why? Because she is a part of him.

The wife is told that she should reverence her husband and submit herself to him. The wife who is a member of the Body of Christ loves and admires her husband. She realizes they are bound together: they are not twain but one. They have been joined together in a holy bond of matrimony that makes them one.

“Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;

“While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear” (1 Peter 3:1, 2).

Women should take seriously the counsel addressed to them. We are told in the Book of Titus that wives are to be sober, wise, understanding; to love their husbands, and to love their children. They are to be “discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed” (Titus 2:4, 5) . And we read concerning the husband:

"Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered" (1 Peter 3:7).

Some may wonder why their prayers do not go through. It might be just as simple as this: The husband may not be treating his wife right, or she may not treat him right. Maybe he doesn't appreciate what his wife does for him and the family. They both may take too much for granted.