Wives, Respect your Husbands…

Several years ago, a friend started a ministry to girls who
were engaged to help prepare them for marriage. 
The engaged girl is encouraged to select three to five married women they
trust and respect to join her for an evening of fun, food, and marital
advice.  Over the years, I’ve
contemplated what I wish I had known before I got married and what I can say to
young brides-to-be.  This is what I have
decided.

We hear a lot about unconditional love.  The Bible commands husbands to love their
wives as their own body and as Christ loves the church.  This love is not dependent on the person’s
actions.  It is sacrificial and enduring.

However, when it comes to wives roles, there seems to be
some confusion.  The Bible commands wives
to respect their husbands. 
Interestingly, research suggests that a man’s number one need from his
wife is to be respected.  Somewhere along
the way, we started believing the lie that respect has to be earned.  Says who?

The Bible does not say wives, respect your husbands when
they deserve it.  It is an unconditional
statement.  We are to respect our
husbands, period.  This does not mean
that we agree with every decision they make, nor that they always act with
integrity.  It does mean that we respect
them even when it is difficult.

Think about it.  We
are commanded to respect authority.  We
may not always agree with the president’s policies, but we respect him because
of his office.  Respect is due him
because of who he is, not for what he does. 
In the same way, we are to respect our husbands.

So ladies, the next time you are disgusted with something
your husband does, respect him anyway. 
You don’t have to condone bad behavior, but you can still treat him with
dignity and respect. 

What does it look like for wives to respect their
husbands?  I’d love to hear your feedback
for a future post, illustrating how this is practically accomplished.