Unless otherwise stated, all scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.
Used by permission. www.Lockman.org
Jesus said to the Pharisees who came testing Him, that He which made at the beginning made them male and female. So, for this reason shall a man leave his father and mother and cleave unto his wife and the two of them shall become one flesh. Hence, they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore the Lord has joined together, let no man put asunder.
And truly, turning to the book of the genealogy of Adam, Genesis 5, we have the full understanding of what Jesus was saying. Genesis 5:2 says;
“Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called THEIR NAME ADAM, IN THE DAY WHEN THEY WERE CREATED.” (Emphasis added, KJV).
We gather from this account in Genesis that, although Eve was later fashioned out of Adam to exist physically, she had been created the day God created Adam to exist but, perhaps, only as a spiritual entity. Thus, Adam was created as a male and also a female. That is, in him was his wife before she was eventually built out of him to be presented to him. Note the response of the man when the Lord God brought her unto him:
“This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman (literally, also wife), because she was taken out of Man (literally, also husband).” (Genesis 2:23).
But it is true that Adam did not know if the Lord God had removed anything from him to build another person; for he was deeply asleep. However, when he woke up and saw Eve, he knew she was only an extension and enlargement of himself, no difference. He therefore called her “wife” that was taken from him, the “husband.”
A husband is therefore a man, who has seen his extension and enlargement in a woman and he is therefore joined to her. Accordingly, the woman also becomes his wife.
And Genesis 2:24-25 says;
“FOR THIS REASON a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.” (Emphasis added).
Thus, the basis on which the man should leave his parents to be joined to his wife so they can be one flesh is seeing an extension of himself. Also, importantly, this forms the basis on which the man can be an excellent husband.
So, first off, an excellent husband is the man who is excellently one with his wife. He is a man who is joined to his wife and they are therefore no longer two but one. If, however, a man is joined to whoever is not his extension and enlargement, they cannot be one. Consequently, he cannot be an excellent husband because he will not be excellently one with his “wife.” The “wife” will be a separate person from him. They can only become one if the woman is an extension and enlargement of the man. For she will still be “Adam” but only an expression of him so they are one. And even if they are both naked – or have whatever should cause one to be ashamed – they will not be ashamed because they are just one person. As no one is ashamed of his nakedness being seen by only himself.
If the man fails to be excellent in the aspect of oneness, he may not be able to show himself excellent in the other areas.
Second, an excellent husband is a loving husband. Now, love does not just mean an expression of emotion. Love is sacrificing, even sacrificing one’s life. Clearly do we read in John 3:16 that, “For God so LOVED the world, that He GAVE His ONLY begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (Emphasis added). We all know He gave His only Son not just to come to the world, but also to die for the world. This was the expression of His love. Therefore, love is not a mere expression of some sort of emotion but a sacrifice, even of one’s life. Furthermore, the apostle also recommended a template for all husbands and he said in Ephesians 5:25, “Husbands, love your wives, JUST AS Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her” (Emphasis added). Just as Jesus loved the church, His Bride; so should the husband love his wife. It is also seen that “loved” and “gave” go together here as in John 3:16. The husband should give himself up for his wife. But this can only be possible if the husband is excellently one with his wife, for He would actually be dying for himself. (Ephesians 5:28).
Third, an excellent husband provides for his wife. Because of his love for his wife, he sacrificially provides whatever is needed to make her presentable. Ephesians 5:25-27 says;
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, SO THAT He might…PRESENT to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.”
An excellent husband ensures, by way of sacrifice, his wife has everything that will fully make her express all her beauty and glory in all areas. Be it physical provisions in terms of security, finance and every other necessary material possession. Or spiritual provisions like proper headship and guidance.
To become an excellent husband, the man must begin properly. Because if the foundation be destroyed, even if the he intends to be excellent it will be highly frustrating. It should begin with being excellently one with his wife and then he would be able, by the strength of God, to show himself excellent in every other required area.
No comments:
Post a Comment