The responsibilities of both the husband and wife are spelt out in the Bible, and made very simple. The responsibility of the wife is to submit, while that of the husband is to love. Many homes are in jeopardy because this order is not being followed. These two words – submit and love – are not difficult to understand. We all know what it means to submit and what it means to love. When both parties act on this order, there will be joy in the marriage. Therefore, if there is a home where joy is missing you can be certain that obedience to this instruction from God is missing. A woman who is loved by her husband will blossom. A man whose wife submits to him will always be happy, and at the end of the day, their marriage will succeed.

If you are a child of God, this instruction to submit to your husband or to love your wife isn’t a suggestion; it is a commandment from God. If you have not been experiencing joy in your marriage, you may need to check again to be sure you truly love your wife or submit to your husband.

A certain woman was always coming to ask me to pray concerning her husband’s behaviour. One day I said to her, “When you get home today, serve your husband’s dinner, then invite him to the table, saying, “My lord”. She responded, “Whose lord?” I continued, “When he gets to the table, kneel and serve him”. She said, “Over my dead body!”. You see, this woman and her husband were both professors and she saw no reason to stoop that low for him. She had given her life to Christ, but her husband was yet to do the same and she really wanted him to. She was quiet for a while then agreed to do as I had instructed. When she got home and did as I asked, her husband said, “Tell the witch doctor who did this charm for you that it will not work on me”. She said “It is not a witch doctor; it is Pastor Adeboye who told me to do this’. He responded, “Really? Is that what they teach you in that Church? I will go there with you, then”. By the time I saw her the next month, her husband had given his life to Christ and joy filled their home.

Wife, it does not matter if you are older than your husband, more educated or wealthier than he. As long as he is your husband, the Bible says you must submit. Husband, you must also love your wife unconditionally as Christ loves the Church.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.