Husband Leadership: Some practical guidance

To follow up on my previous post on whether husbands really want a submissive wife, I’d like to givesome practical direction from scripture on how we might begin to gird our loins like men.

Don't Abdicate Your Responsibilities: As her worship leader: [3 ] But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. (1 Corinthians 11:3 ESV). [23 ] For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. [24 ] Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. (Ephesians 5:23-24 ESV). As a sanctifying agent: [25 ] Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, [26 ] that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, [27 ] so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.  (Ephesians 5:25-33 ESV) As caretaker for her wellbeing:  [28 ] In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. [29 ] For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, [30 ] because we are members of his body. [31 ] “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” [32 ] This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. [33 ] However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. (Ephesians 5:28-33 ESV) As her lover and friend: [19 ] Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. (Colossians 3:19 ESV); “. . . the husband of one wife. . .” (1 Timothy 3:12, Titus 1:6); [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. (1 Peter 3:7 ESV); [15 ] Drink water from your own cistern,/flowing water from your own well./[16 ] Should your springs be scattered abroad,/streams of water in the streets?/[17 ] Let them be for yourself alone,/and not for strangers with you./[18 ] Let your fountain be blessed,/and rejoice in the wife of your youth,/[19 ] a lovely deer, a graceful doe./Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight;/be intoxicated always in her love./[20 ] Why should you be intoxicated, my son, with a forbidden woman/and embrace the bosom of an adulteress?/[21 ] For a man's ways are before the eyes of the LORD,/ and he ponders all his paths./[22 ] The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him,/and he is held fast in the cords of his sin./[23 ] He dies for lack of discipline,/and because of his great folly he is led astray. (Proverbs 5:15-18; Proverbs 5:19-23 ESV) Some articles by other brothers: Dr. John Dod, Richard Baxter, John Piper, Sam Storms.