CONSIDERATE

March 2, 2003

The N.I.V. of 1 Pet 3.7 says "in the same way, husbands be considerate of your wives."

That means to be understanding, to hold in esteem, to be thoughtful, careful, discreet, prudent, not rash, treat with respect, calm, sensitive. Great word! Does that describe you? Does it describe the average husband? I think not! Its been my observation that most men are inconsiderate... insensitive and unthinking. It can be a humongous problem!.

It didn’t take long for me to think of some examples, my own, and plenty of others. The guy who buys his wife a shotgun so she won’t be afraid to stay in the apartment alone....and she hates guns. Another drives too fast and too close to other cars so as to make wifey very uncomfortable. Or take wife on a week’s sailing cruise when she gets deathly seasick at even the thought of water. Dropping your clothes on the floor. Lousy table manners. Bad language. Sloppy dressing. Smoking. Drinking. Growing a beard. Playing a lot of golf—watching an enormous amount of TV football. Reading the paper while she’s talking to you. Bring five friends home for dinner unannounced. Hanging out with unsavory (to her) friends. Not listening—tuning her out. Sarcasm. Repeatedly showing up late. Making jokes about women, and your wife. The silent treatment. Indifference to financial problems. Unaware of her emotional and physical needs. Making plans without consulting her.

There are lots more. Can you think of some? Well, you get the idea. How are you doing?

The main command from God for husbands...is to love your wife like Christ loves the church. If you allow God to give you that kind of love for your wife, all these characteristics, these symptoms, will melt away and you will lead from a heart of love and understanding. That will pave the way for her to be your ‘helper‘and to ‘submit’ to you as the head of the family.