Genesis 2:24 -
Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto
his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
God’s
purpose for companionship and effective relationship is leaving and cleaving.
Cleaving can only be complete when spouses leave their parents.
To cleave
means to - to cling, stick, stay close, cleave, keep close, stick to, stick
with, follow closely, join to, overtake, catch
Ephesians 5:25 -
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave
himself for it;
God’s
purpose for marriage
is that Husbands model Christ love for the Church toward their wives. This
includes – Being willing to view things from the wife’s perspective.
Jesus came down from Heaven so he could be identified with his bride the church
and by doing so became able to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in
every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15).
Being
willing to lay down his life for his wife - This not only means to protect her but to also be
willing to give up ones desires and aspirations if they cause conflict with her
needs and desires. “Christ set this example in the garden of Gethsemane
becoming obedient to death when he declared not my will but thine be done” It’s
putting her before oneself. Christ laid down his life for his bride the Church.
Being
faithful – Christ
faithfulness to his bride remains even after his ascension to be seated at the
right hand of the Father. He ever lives to make intercession for his bride
(Hebrews 7:25)
Being
Patient – Christ is
never impatient with his bride (1 Corinthians 13)
Being a
servant - For even
the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a
ransom for many. Some husbands have the idea that their wives are to serve them
24 hours a day.
