Husbands, in the same way, be considerate as you live with your wives. 1 Peter 3:7 (NIV)
The phrase be considerate literally means “according to knowledge.” Your wife is unlike any other woman God has ever made! Your job is to know her and understand her.
Learn what makes her happy and pursue it. Discover what hurts her and avoid it. Understand her struggles and fears, her hopes and dreams, then let that knowledge shape the way you relate to her.
Never let it be said that her friend or counselor understands her better than you do. God has called you to listen to her with your heart. That is your lifelong calling. She is not the woman you dated 5, 10, 20 or 30 years ago. Understand what God is doing in her life now.
Peter also counsels husbands to treat their wives with respect (3:7) or honor. It means to place her in a high and exalted position. She has chosen to give herself to you. Make sure you regard her as a sacred trust from God.
Cherish your wife. Honor her with your time and your money. Use your strength to support her and bless her. Speak to her in a way that makes her feel that she is honored. Speak about her with praise, so that she will be exalted in the eyes of others.
Why do this? So that nothing will hinder your prayers. The first qualification for leadership in the church is the stability and harmony of the home. It would be a sad thing for any church if God did not listen to the prayers of its leaders. Changing the world begins at home. Living a life of love begins with loving those God has placed next to you.
How are you doing in this area?
