1 Husband As Spiritual Leader of the Home

In the marriage ceremony the husband vows to God to be the spiritual leader of the home and in doing so he vows to love his wife as Christ loves the church. If the husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church then those passages in the Word of God which characterize Christ's sacrifice, faithfulness and commitment to the church should also characterize the husbands sacrifice, faithfulness and commitment to his wife. The love of Christ for the church is reflected not in the church's behavior but rather the character and nature of our Savior. So then a husbands love of his wife is not a reflection of nor dependant upon her behavior but rather is indicative of the husbands spiritual maturity. The love we receive from Christ is given rather than earned, even so the love the wife should receive from her husband is given rather than earned.