1 of 1

Key Bible Verse: You will submit to one another out of reverence for Christ (Ephesians 5:21). Bonus Reading: Romans 15:2-3a

In modern Western society, nowhere has marital confusion reigned more than in the area of the husband's role. On one extreme is the dominant husband, who feels it's his respon sibility to inform his wife as to what they're going to do and doesn't tolerate questions from her. On the other extreme is the distant husband, who expects the wife to support the family and make all the major decisions while he's the resident sports information source and keeps his muscles bulging with workouts at the local gym so his wife will by "proud of him."

Somewhere between these two is a healthy middle road where the husband is responsible, dependable, and deeply committed to his wife and family—a loving leader. On the one hand, he's able to relate to his wife on an emotional level and express pain and joy, sympathy and encouragement. On the other hand, he's strong and intent on the wellbeing of his wife and family. He doesn't run when things get tough but looks for solutions that will benefit the whole family. He values the partnership of his wife. He wants to be there for her but has no desire to dominate her. This is the husband described in the Bible.

—Gary Chapman in The Transformation of a Man's Heart

My Response: Where am I now on the dominant-to-distant spectrum? Should I move?

Thought to Apply:Submission isn't obeying another; it is putting oneself under the other to serve the good of God for that person's life. —Dan Allender & Tremper Longman

Adapted from The Transformation of a Man's Heart (InterVarsity, 2006) by permission.

Copyright © 2009 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.
Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.

 1 of 1

share this page

Prayer for the Week

Help me, Lord, to sacrificially love my wife in practical ways that will bind us tightly together.

				Try an Issue of Men of Integrity Free! Name Street Address City/State/Zip E-mail Address No credit card required. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only. Click here for International orders. If you decide you want to keep Men of Integrity coming, honor your invoice for just $19.95 and receive five more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The trial issue is yours to keep, regardless. Give Men of Integrity as a gift Buy 1 gift subscription, get 1 FREE!

FREE Newsletter Sign up for the Men of Integrity Newsletter (All fields required)    RSS Feed   RSS Help