And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. - Colossians 3:17 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. - Colossians 3:19

The debate about submission always becomes a nasty argument very quickly when someone is not willing to submit to the word of God. What makes it worse is that, very often, men are not doing their part by being Christ in the home so that their wives would joyfully live under their care. Paul puts it even more plainly in the Ephesian letter.

“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.” - Ephesians 5:25-28

Husbands and fathers ought to be sacrificially giving themselves in service to their families every day. Men, we need to put the welfare of our families above every desire or wish that we have. We have the responsibility to lead, but that does not mean to drive with a whip. Jesus was the Good Shepherd. A shepherd leads the sheep ahead of them, not driving them from behind with orders.

Husbands and fathers, our job is to lead spiritually first. We need to be reading our Bibles and going to church. We need to pray. We need to teach our families to do these things by principle and by EXAMPLE.

Husbands and fathers, our job is to provide. We are obligated to provide the daily physical needs of our wife and family as well. Work hard as unto the Lord. Again, we are setting the example for our sons!

Husbands and fathers, our job is to protect. We need to both physically and spiritually protect our families. This means we need to be continually on our guard, fighting for the security of our family. Paul put it this way (in this verse, “quit” means to “act like”).

“Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.” - 1st Corinthians 16:13

The first question in the home is not, “Does your wife submit to you?” The first question from God is, “Are you acting like Christ in your home?” If we are not doing this, then how can we say that we are truly thankful?