You know what? Anything Jesus had to say to the Church, He said in the Word. He instructed us. He told us that which would help and that which would be good. He did not hold it back from us.
I do not find where Jesus ever went off somewhere without telling the Church He was going, leaving us to wonder where He went and if He was coming back.
He said, "I am going, but I am coming again. You can count on it" (John 14:3).
Jesus never mistreats the Church in any way. He sacrificed Himself for the Church. Jesus gave everything for us.
He said: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you" (John 15:13-14 KJV).
Are You Giving, Or Taking?
Jesus gave Himself for us, as His "friends," and He still is giving Himself for us as High Priest for the Church.
An awful lot of Christian men are not giving anything to their wives - no time, no love, and no respect. They treat them like cattle. They treat them like a machine in the home, a machine to provide sex, wash dirty clothes, clean the house, take care of the children, and fix the meals. But that is about it. There is no real respect, no bringing her into the conversation.
Even the Lord said, "Come now, and let us reason together," (Isa. 1:18 KJV). Many husbands do not discuss things with their wives. They just decide to do something and go ahead and do it.
"Well, I am the man, the head of the house, and I have always wanted a red Cadillac with white interior, so I'm going to go get one."
She Has Input Too
But the Word said that you and your wife are one (Gen. 2:24). Suppose she does not like a Cadillac? Especially a red one with a white interior. Does she not have a choice in the matter? She should, if she is one with you. Jesus never did that to the Church.
The Apostle Paul told us why Jesus gave Himself for the Church:
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.Love Is An Act, Not A Feeling
(Eph. 5:26-28 KJV)
Paul is saying that Jesus loved the Body and gave Himself for it. Then He relates the love of Jesus to how men should act and feel toward their wives. So ought men to love their wives (v. 28a). Men ought to love their wives in a self-sacrificing way, as they love their own bodies. That is how Jesus loves us, as His Body.
The opposite would be true, as well. If a man does not love himself, he cannot love his wife. Probably this is one reason why so many people have such a difficult time loving other people.
They really do not like themselves. Many people do not like themselves because they do not have a good self-image, although they put up a big smoke screen. Then they only like other people to the point where they can use them to get where they want to go.
Communication Is Crucial
Communication is a two-way street. It does not just mean telling her what you think. It means listening to what she thinks. It does not mean coming home and giving her a blow-by-blow description of your day, then picking up the paper or turning on the TV when she begins to tell you about hers.
Also, husbands who cannot receive revelation knowledge from their wives are in trouble! God can give you wisdom through anyone or anything He chooses. If you refuse to receive spiritual revelation, you are refusing God, not just your wife.
You are in this thing together, and whatever one gets is going to affect both of you. If you have a good wife who is willing to share what she gets in study and prayer with you, then you are crazy not to receive it.
You do not have to feel less than a man because your wife came up with it. Be glad she did. Be glad somebody came up with it, because you surely had not! You should not feel inadequate. Perhaps she has a little more time during the day.
I am glad when my wife comes up with good ideas, because I am affected in a positive way. Praise God!
by Harrison House Authors
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers