What is God’s role for the man in marriage? The most important role for the husband is to be a man who fears the Lord. Psalm 128:4 says, “Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD.” Every man who puts Jesus first in his life, in all aspects, is then able to be the husband and father God would have him be.
Second on the husband’s list is his wife. She is to come second only to the LORD Himself. Scripture speaks clearly of what a husband is responsible for in his marriage. First, he is to love her unconditionally and sacrificially. “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church (unconditionally) and gave Himself for her (sacrificially)” (Ephesians 5:25). When a man chooses to love his wife in this way, it allows her to feel desired, important, and secure in their relationship.
Next, he is to continue to pursue her, study her, and know her better. He is to honor his wife by speaking well of her—not degrading her nor allowing anyone else to. This involves protecting her not only physically but also emotionally and spiritually. “Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered” (1 Peter 3:7).
‘Weaker’ here does not mean inferior! The comparison of a man and his wife in this verse is like that of a steel bowl and a porcelain bowl. Both are equally useful, but you would definitely be more cautious and delicate in how you handle the porcelain bowl versus that of the steel bowl. This verse also speaks of answered or unanswered prayer for the husband. If the husband will not treat his wife as God commands, his prayer requests are going to be put on hold until he is obedient to God with this second most important relationship.
