Bible Reading: Job 42; 1 Pet. 3:1-7
“Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.” – 1 Peter 3:7 (KJV)
One of the major causes of challenges in homes is dishonouring ones spouse. In a number of homes, men do not honour their wives. They treat them as inferior and thus they attract their wives’ curses instead of blessing. And when the wife is at war with her husband, how can their prayers access the presence of God. Amos 3:3 (KJV) states: “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”
When wives are annoyed with their husbands, there cannot be unity in such homes and their prayer may not be answered until they come together in unity. Thus 1 Peter 3:7 (KJV) says: “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.”
Honouring your wife requires that you respect her and recognise that you are first of all equal in the presence of God; being joint heirs with the Lord Jesus. And, thereafter, recognise that you are complimentary parts of a whole system. For example, while the husband may be likened to the head of a human being, the wife will be the neck and none of the two can stand without the other though they perform different functions.
Honouring your wife entails knowing her and understanding her. To do that you need to communicate with her regularly, provide for her financially, materially, sexually, emotionally whether or not she reciprocates. This is necessary because honouring her is not about what she does but about her God. The bible says in 1 Timothy 5:8 (KJV): “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” So provision for the wife in particular and the family in general is not about the person but about the God we serve.
You should also recognise your wife is a weaker vessel and should be attended to with much care so that she is not emotionally destabilized.
Action Point: Are you honouring God in the life of your wife? If not , you need to make amends urgently to remain in faith.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero