22 Jul 9 Ways a Husband Can Honor their Wife
1 Peter 3:7 – Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.
Honor.
It’s a little word that makes a big difference.
Earlier in his letter, Peter told us to “honor everyone”. To honor is not to agree with everyone on everything, it just means you do so without being a disagreeable person. To honor is not to enable evil, sin, or injustice, but rather to oppose the people behind it in a way that gives them the kind of dignity and respect you would appreciate receiving.
Our culture is at an all-time low in honor, which explains why everyone is miserable. While we cannot control how people behave outside our home, in our home we can control how we treat one another starting with our spouse. This includes husbands learning to honor their wives in nine ways:
- Honor her spiritually– Initiate church attendance, prayer, Bible reading, ministry service, and godly friends.
- Honor her emotionally – Work on empathy and considering her needs and views, being emotionally present, and not disclosing private matters to the wrong people, like extended family members.
- Honor her physically– Be protective of her so that she feels safe with you and safety from you. Be present with her and practice lots of non-sexual touch.
- Honor her sexually– Be a man who has eyes and hands for one woman and one woman only.
- Honor her verbally – Do not refer to her by negative nicknames, watch your volume, tone, and countenance when speaking to her, and do not use curse words.
- Honor her financially– Work hard, plan your budget jointly, spend wisely, give generously, and keep no financial secrets from one another.
- Honor her practically – Architect life so that it works for both of you, including a the house you buy, schedule you keep, chores you do and do not be selfish funding your hobbies before practical household needs.
- Honor her parentally– Have a unified front as parents, and do not drag the kids into your fights.
- Honor her consistently– God is unchanging which makes Him faithful, so pursue godliness where you are dependable, consistent, and not a moody man changing all the time.
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To download the free e-book ODD LIFE: Good God which is a study in 1 Peter for individuals, groups, and families from Pastor Mark click HERE. To listen to Pastor Mark’s 9 sermons on 1 Peter preached in the summer of 2020, click HERE. These and other resources are made possible by our ministry partners who support Real Faith as a Bible teaching ministry of Mark Driscoll Ministries to whom we say THANK YOU!
