Life With A Precious Vessel

Helping Your Wife Feel Secure The Bible provides clear guidance for husbands on helping their wives feel secure in marriage. In 1 Peter 3:7, we find this command: “Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.” This verse offers five practical ways a husband can help his wife feel secure in their relationship. 1. Notice Her “You husbands likewise, live with your wives…” (1 Pet. 3:7a). Acknowledging your wife is an essential courtesy. Consider these examples: • Greet her when you come home from work before doing anything else. • Acknowledge her presence if she enters the room while you're speaking to someone or on the phone. • Notice her efforts, such as a new hairstyle, outfit, or perfume. • Recognize her sacrifices, like cooking a special meal or decorating the home. 2. Listen to Her “…live with your wives in an understanding way” (1 Pet. 3:7b). Husbands must study their wives, taking great care to understand them as they would a repair manual or a quarterback’s playbook. Listening is key to gaining this understanding. When your wife speaks, give her your undivided attention. Avoid trying to listen while multitasking—whether working on a project, playing video games, or watching TV. Show her you’re engaged by repeating back what she said and following through on her concerns. Listening attentively opens a pathway to her heart. 3. Appreciate Her “…as with a weaker vessel, since she is a woman; and grant her honor” (1 Pet. 3:7c). The term "grant" means "to assign." Husbands are called to assign their wives a place of honor. Consider the following practical applications: • Hold her hand—it may seem mundane, but it matters greatly to her. • Compliment her beauty and appearance, noticing the little details. • Be chivalrous: open car doors, pull out chairs, or offer your jacket if she’s cold. • Show thoughtfulness by planning special moments, such as a romantic getaway. The word "honor" in this verse is the same Greek word translated as "precious" in 1 Peter 2:7, referring to Christ. Just as Christ is precious, so is your wife. Treat her as such. 4. Respond to Her Do you show any concern when your wife is bumped and bruised by the cares of life? Do you show any concern when a child answers his or her mother disrespectfully? This can dent her sense of personal worth when a husband stands by and says nothing. A wife will notice how your eyes light up and your entire personality changes as you get excited about sports or other activities. If your wife doesn’t sense that same excitement in you when you’re with her, she may develop a gnawing sense of failure, feeling she isn’t as attractive to you as your activities or friends. This can be devastating to a woman’s sense of personal worth and security. Husband, respond to your wife. 5. Minister to Her “…as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.” (1 Peter 3:7d) Ephesians 5:26 tells us that the husband is responsible for his wife’s sanctification. The highest duty of the Christian husband is to care for the sanctification of his wife. The word “sanctify” means “to make holy.” Albert Barnes says, “The great object of the Redeemer was to purify and save the church. The meaning here is, that a husband is to manifest similar love toward his wife, and a similar desire that she should be prepared to ‘walk before him in white.’” The husband is responsible for helping his wife to become holy. He does this by following the example of Christ, our model, who sacrificed Himself for His Church to sanctify it. The word “sanctify” also means “to set apart.” When God sanctifies something or someone, He assigns it a unique purpose. “And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.” (Genesis 2:3) “Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.” (Exodus 13:2) “Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God, and cry unto the LORD.” (Joel 1:14) God has placed a special and unique calling upon the woman, and the husband’s job is to ensure that his wife fulfills the special, God-ordained calling on her life. For what purpose does Jesus sanctify the church? Ephesians 5:27 gives us the answer: “That He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.” How does Christ sanctify the church? He does so “with the washing of water by the word.” (Ephesians 5:26). What does this say to the husband? It is saying that the husband’s responsibility is to set his wife apart to God. In other words, he is to consecrate or set his wife apart to God through the teaching of the Word of God. He is to utilize the Word of God to encourage her to fulfill her destiny in Christ. He is to turn to the Bible to motivate her to be all she can be for the Lord.