Rules for the Ruler
Rules for the Ruler consist of an examination of Biblical
commands given to the husband regarding his relationship with his wife
and the responsibilities assigned to him as husband and head of his
wife. Just
as submission is not optional for the Christian wife, obedience to and
fulfillment of these commands is not optional for the Christian
husband. As a born again Christian, he is a slave unto righteousness
and is obligated
to obedience. Beyond providing instructions for the husbands, these
commands
reveal that which God desires for the wife and has made her "due" to
which
she is, by His law, legally entitled to receive. As such, they are her
rights,
his responsibility, given by royal decree, from the Highest of
Authority
which are to be fulfilled, never denied and never taken away. It is
written
within His unchanging word that she is to be loved, cherished,
protected,
nurtured, provided for, esteemed and honored. This is His command to
the
husband and His desire (that which he desires) for the one who is the
heart and beauty of His creation.
Ephesians 6:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ
also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Part 1: Husbands, love your wives
Within the Bible are two Greek words used to define love.
One of those words is phileo which means to have an ardent affection
for.
The other word is agapao meaning to have high esteem or high regard for
(Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary). The word love in Ephesian 6:25
is a verb constituting action and not merely thoughts or feeling.
Actions,
not words. promises, or feelings are what prove love to be true and
sincere. Therefore, the Christian husband is under Biblical command to
have high esteem and regard for his wife and to treat her accordingly.
Part 1a: Esteem: to set (to establish) high (great) value
(importance,
worth) on; to have a high opinion of
- establish: to institute as a law permanently/ to prove
- great: more than ordinary; remarkable; immense
- importance: deserving special attention or notice
- worth: of substantial or significant value or merit
- merit: deserving of honor or esteem
Part 1b: Regard: to have a protective interest for / to
guard
- protective interest: a desire (yearning) for the
(spiritual, mental, physical, and emotional) safety and well being of
another that prompt protective actions, attention and concern.
- guard : to protect (spiritually, mentally, physically,
and emotionally) and keep from harm by watchful (attentive, alert) care
and precautions/ to watch over; to make secure (spiritually, mentally,
physically, and emotionally)
to be continued
