Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. . . .

— Ephesians 5:25

In many parts of Africa women are dependent on their husbands in all respects. As you can imagine, this can lead to serious abuses of power by a husband. But, globally, society is changing. More and more women are becoming independent. They might have a paying job or be able to receive advanced training. However, even these advances for women can cause negative impacts. Some men who are afraid of losing their traditional role have become bitter and have resorted to violence against their wives.

It is not easy to live as a Christian in a changing society. But Paul’s instructions here still apply today. Every woman is worthy of the love of God, and God calls husbands to love their wives just as Christ loves the church. A husband must love his wife selflessly. Christ is not only our example in how to love others, but he is also our strength.

Unfortunately, all over the world there are husbands who mistreat their wives and are violent toward them. Sometimes they even do this with an appeal to the Bible. But violent behavior is contrary to God’s Word. God calls all of us to humbly love and to lead as a servant, just as Jesus did. Any other way leads to authoritarian excesses.

Think about how you love and lead others in your life. Is it based in God’s Word? Let us look to the Lord Jesus as an unmoving example of how to treat one another.

Lord Jesus, thank you for your example. Fill us with the grace and humility to live and love as you have done. Amen.