azterisky
6th Dec '07 Thu, 16:22
Why Do Families (And The World) Lack So Much Love? Mostly, It's Because
Husbands Aren't Loving Enough
Two days ago, I had an ecumenical meeting with the President Gloria
and various religious leaders in the country (even Muslim leaders).
That was where I spoke to Bishop Ruben Abante, the head of the
Alliance of Baptist Churches in the Philippines . We were talking
about how to solve the problems of the world. Naks.
That was when Bishop Ruben gave me a word about families that blew
my mind.
He said, "Brother Bo, the Bible says in Ephesians 5:25, 'Husbands,
love your wives, and! wives submit to your husbands.'
Have you ever wondered why the Bible doesn't say, 'Wives, love your
husbands?'" "
Why?" I asked.
The Bishop explained to me that the responsibility to love the
family rests on the husband's shoulder. The wife and the kids are
only to respond to that love. In the same way that the Bible says in
1 John 4:9 (my life verse) "We love because He first loved us," we
respond to God's love for us.
That was powerful. I began to reflect on all the broken families
I've counselled through the past 28 years of my life. Most of them
(not all) were broken because the father didn't love! enough. And
as I reflect on all the broken people I've counselled, I can see the
same pattern. In most of these individuals (again, not all), I see
the lack of a loving father in that person's life.
Fathers, you have a pivotal role in the life of your wife and
children. You are to aggressively, assertively, deliberately love
them-and they will respond.
But the good Bishop was not finished. He said, "Why didn't God say,
'Husbands, submit to your wife?'" "
Why?" I asked again.
He said that once that love is there, submission is the natural
response. He asked, "Why is there so much rebellion and disobedience
among children today?" He explained that kids need to see their
mother submit to their father as a model to follow. (We didn't have
time to talk about situations where the man of the house doesn't
love. Should the wife still submit? That difficult question I hope
to answer it in another article.)
But let me share with you my experience.
I love my wife. I do it aggressively, assertively, and deliberately.
And she submits to my leadership. I have a vision for the family and
I'm bringing my family to that vision-and she supports me.
! But what does that mean in daily life?
That I'm king and she's my slave?
Gosh, you should visit my home.
Because I love her, I want to serve her. And because she follows
already my general direction, I realize that 90% of life's decisions
are about the trivial stuff. Because I love her, it's my joy to
say, "Yes" to her.
So in reality, I follow her 90% of the time! She isn't my slave. She
is the queen I pamper.
That, my friends, is marital headship-submission in daily life.
It is with this note that I greet you a Happy Valentines Day.
May your families be filled with love.
Husbands, take responsibility in filling your family with love.
Wives, support and submit to your husband.
And together, we can fill the world with God's love.
Husbands Aren't Loving Enough
Two days ago, I had an ecumenical meeting with the President Gloria
and various religious leaders in the country (even Muslim leaders).
That was where I spoke to Bishop Ruben Abante, the head of the
Alliance of Baptist Churches in the Philippines . We were talking
about how to solve the problems of the world. Naks.
That was when Bishop Ruben gave me a word about families that blew
my mind.
He said, "Brother Bo, the Bible says in Ephesians 5:25, 'Husbands,
love your wives, and! wives submit to your husbands.'
Have you ever wondered why the Bible doesn't say, 'Wives, love your
husbands?'" "
Why?" I asked.
The Bishop explained to me that the responsibility to love the
family rests on the husband's shoulder. The wife and the kids are
only to respond to that love. In the same way that the Bible says in
1 John 4:9 (my life verse) "We love because He first loved us," we
respond to God's love for us.
That was powerful. I began to reflect on all the broken families
I've counselled through the past 28 years of my life. Most of them
(not all) were broken because the father didn't love! enough. And
as I reflect on all the broken people I've counselled, I can see the
same pattern. In most of these individuals (again, not all), I see
the lack of a loving father in that person's life.
Fathers, you have a pivotal role in the life of your wife and
children. You are to aggressively, assertively, deliberately love
them-and they will respond.
But the good Bishop was not finished. He said, "Why didn't God say,
'Husbands, submit to your wife?'" "
Why?" I asked again.
He said that once that love is there, submission is the natural
response. He asked, "Why is there so much rebellion and disobedience
among children today?" He explained that kids need to see their
mother submit to their father as a model to follow. (We didn't have
time to talk about situations where the man of the house doesn't
love. Should the wife still submit? That difficult question I hope
to answer it in another article.)
But let me share with you my experience.
I love my wife. I do it aggressively, assertively, and deliberately.
And she submits to my leadership. I have a vision for the family and
I'm bringing my family to that vision-and she supports me.
! But what does that mean in daily life?
That I'm king and she's my slave?
Gosh, you should visit my home.
Because I love her, I want to serve her. And because she follows
already my general direction, I realize that 90% of life's decisions
are about the trivial stuff. Because I love her, it's my joy to
say, "Yes" to her.
So in reality, I follow her 90% of the time! She isn't my slave. She
is the queen I pamper.
That, my friends, is marital headship-submission in daily life.
It is with this note that I greet you a Happy Valentines Day.
May your families be filled with love.
Husbands, take responsibility in filling your family with love.
Wives, support and submit to your husband.
And together, we can fill the world with God's love.