In this daily Bible reading Paul speaks about marriage and the relationship of a husband to the wife. Paul tells the husbands to “love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her.” A husband’s love for his wife must be a sacrificial kind of love where a husband puts his needs second to his wife’s needs. He must nourish her and cherish her and prioritize her needs. When a husband does this, his wife will respond favorably to him, and the marriage will prosper.
I believe that most failed marriages originate with the husband. It is the fault of the husband who doesn’t demonstrate sacrificial love toward his wife. If a wife is cold toward her husband it is most likely because the husband is not loving her as he should. We husbands are commanded to love our wives. It is not something we do only if we feel like it. Sometimes it is difficult. However, I have found that when I love my wife even when I don’t feel like it, then the marriage is strengthened. In other words, right feelings follow right actions.
I believe that marriage is a microcosm of our relationship with God. The Bible commands us to love God. Our love for God is demonstrated by our living obediently to Him. When we live correctly and do the right thing, then we will be blessed with many good things. Similar to our marriage, good things or blessings follow right actions.