A Blessed husband fears God and obeys Him. In this lesson you will learn that by unselfishly loving for your wife, caring for her and by leading her as a servant, you will be a blessed, happy, husband.
2. Blessed
is
everyone
who
fears
Jehovah,
who
walks
in
his
ways!
(Psalm
128:1,
CB
OT
p.
979)
3. You
shall
eat
the
fruit
of
the
labor
of
your
hands;
you
shall
be
blessed,
and
it
shall
be
well
with
you.
(Psalm
128:2,
CB
OT
p.
979)
4. Your
wife
will
be
like
a
fruitful
vine
within
your
house;
(Psalm
128:3,
CB
OT
p.
979)
5. your
children
will
be
like
olive
shoots
around
your
table.
(Psalm
128:3,
CB
OT
p.
979)
6. Behold,
thus
shall
the
man
be
blessed
who
fears
Jehovah.
(Psalm
128:4,
CB
OT
p.
979)
7.
8.
9. Unless
Jehovah
builds
the
house,
those
who
build
it
labor
in
vain.
Unless
Jehovah
watches
over
the
city,
the
watchman
stays
awake
in
vain.
(Psalm
127.1,
CB
OT
p.
979)
10. It
is
in
vain
that
you
rise
up
early
and
go
late
to
rest,
eating
the
bread
of
anxious
toil;
for
He
gives
to
his
beloved
sleep.
(Psalm
127.2,
CB
OT
p.
979)
11. Do
not
overwork
to
be
rich;
because
of
your
own
understanding,
cease!
(Proverbs
23.4,
CB
OT
p.
1031)
12. Do
not
overwork
to
be
rich;
because
of
your
own
understanding,
cease!
(Proverbs
23.4,
CB
OT
p.
1031)
13. Do
not
overwork
to
be
rich;
because
of
your
own
understanding,
cease!
(Proverbs
23.4,
CB
OT
p.
1031)
14. The
Key
to
a
Blessed
Family
Blessed
is
everyone
who
fears
Jehovah,
who
walks
in
his
ways!
(Psalm
128:1,
CB
OT
p.
979)
15. The
Key
to
a
Blessed
Family
Blessed
is
everyone
who
fears
Jehovah,
who
walks
in
his
ways!
(Psalm
128:1,
CB
OT
p.
979)
fears
Jehovah
16. The
Key
to
a
Blessed
Family
Blessed
is
everyone
who
fears
Jehovah,
who
walks
in
his
ways!
(Psalm
128:1,
CB
OT
p.
979)
fears
Jehovah
who
walks
in
his
ways
31. But
whoever
would
be
great
among
you
must
be
your
servant
Mark
10.43,
CB
NT
p.
82)
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38. Likewise,
husbands,
live
with
your
wives
in
an
understanding
way,
showing
honor
to
the
woman
(1
Peter
3:7)
39. Likewise,
husbands,
live
with
your
wives
in
an
understanding
way,
showing
honor
to
the
woman
(1
Peter
3:7)
live
with
your
wives
40. Likewise,
husbands,
live
with
your
wives
in
an
understanding
way,
showing
honor
to
the
woman
(1
Peter
3:7)
live
with
your
wives
understanding
41. Likewise,
husbands,
live
with
your
wives
in
an
understanding
way,
showing
honor
to
the
woman
(1
Peter
3:7)
live
with
your
wives
understanding
showing
honor
45. Photo Credits: (All photos from istockphoto.com are copyright protected. Please do not use without permission.)
Woman kissing man’s cheek: http://www.crestock.com/image/2335089-Love.aspx
Old pic: family around table: http://idontknowhowshedoesit.wordpress.com/category/home/
Texting: http://www.leadingsmart.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/texting.jpg
house construction: by Dean Terry: http://www.flickr.com/photos/therefore/18542525/
working man: iStock_000004224520
Couple with woman in front and arm around man’s head: iStock_000004044172
Man yelling at woman with megaphone: iStock_000000650824
Couple eating salad: iStock_000018078198
Cycling: iStock_000011082865
“King”: iStock_000007044942
White man on knee offering heart: iStock_000010772251
Heel and man: iStock_000006152972 and iStock_000004879011
Man stepping on woman: iStock_000004879011 and iStock_000003700021
Family: stockvault-family124691
Psalm 128:1-4: Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways!\n
Psalm 128:2 You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you. \n
Psalm 128:3: Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; \n
Psalm 128:3: your children will be like olive shoots around your table.\n
Psalm 128:4:Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears Jehovah.\n\nDoes this seem “old fashioned”?\n
Maybe, old fashioned is not so bad.\n\nFamilies eat “together” in their cars between events.\n\nThey often spend more time on their phones than communicating with each other over a meal together.\n
What’s so old fashioned about describing your family as blessed, happy?\n\nYour wife is a fruitful vine: beautiful, flourishing, productive.\n\nYour children like olive plants: growing, sprouting, healthy\n\nHow can this describe my family?\n
Psalm 127:1: Unless Jehovah builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless Jehovah watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.\n\nIf you are not depending on God, building on the foundation and wisdom found in His word, leading your family spiritually... all that you do is meaningless!\n
Psalm 127:2 It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.\n\nfocus on working: it will all be vain\n\nwork to make your family happy, it is empty.\n\nToo often we give in to the spirit of the world: materialism, more, work, worry and anxiety.\n
Most men tend to overemphasize work, substituting work for truly caring for our families.\n\nProverbs 23.4-5: Do not overwork to be rich; Because of your own understanding, cease! Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; They fly away like an eagle toward heaven.\n
What our families need are spiritual leaders, not money and things.\n\nWhat our wives need is intimate companionship: not bigger houses, cars, clothes, shoes\n
Overworking often points to a lack of trust in God’s care and provision for us.\n\nWhen we put Him first, depend on Him and not money, we’ll find that He will care for us and our families.\n
Psalm 128:1: Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways!\n\nFears Jehovah: reverent; Walks in His ways: Obedient\n\nPersonally, as an example for your wife and your children.\n\nHaving a happy family begins with your being a spiritually minded, righteous, man.\n\nProviding an example for your wife and children.\n
Psalm 128:1: Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways!\n\nFears Jehovah: reverent; Walks in His ways: Obedient\n\nPersonally, as an example for your wife and your children.\n\nHaving a happy family begins with your being a spiritually minded, righteous, man.\n\nProviding an example for your wife and children.\n
Psalm 128:1: Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways!\n\nFears Jehovah: reverent; Walks in His ways: Obedient\n\nPersonally, as an example for your wife and your children.\n\nHaving a happy family begins with your being a spiritually minded, righteous, man.\n\nProviding an example for your wife and children.\n
Psalm 128:1: Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways!\n\nFears Jehovah: reverent; Walks in His ways: Obedient\n\nPersonally, as an example for your wife and your children.\n\nHaving a happy family begins with your being a spiritually minded, righteous, man.\n\nProviding an example for your wife and children.\n
Unselfish Loving\n\nEphesians 5:25-27: 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.\n
Giving of myself, not things (may try to make up for lack of love through material things).\n\nLoving: DOING what will BENEFIT her.\n\nOften husband stop denying ourselves once we’ve married (dating, winning the girl, is a very different story: go out of our way to make sure she knows we think she is special!) Why stop? \n
Loving unselfishly, your wife may follow your lead, thus ending isolation and building oneness.\n\nSo what is love?\n\n1 Cor. 13.4-7: it does not insist on it’s own way\n
Two Clear Examples that demonstrate what our love should be!\n\n1) As Christ loved the church (Eph. 5.25)\n\nGave himself up for her\n\nSanctify her\n
2) as their own bodies (28)\n\nExplore this in just a bit!\n\nNext slide: a warning against bitterness: Col. 3.19\n
Colossians 3:19: Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.\n\n(NKJV: uses bitter)\n\nharsh= angry, exasperated, irritated\n\n(little things that “don’t matter” but add up over time)\n\nDon’t allow bitterness/harshness to replace love.\n
Proverbs 5:18-19: 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.\n\nA blessed husband means unselfishly loving your wife; putting her needs above your own and refusing to be harsh toward her in any way. Rejoice in your wife!\n
Caring\n\nEphesians 5:28-30: 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.\n
Caring ... as their own bodies\n\nhighest level of care growing out of very intimate knowledge\n\ncaring includes nourishing (aiding in growth and maturity [SPIRITUAL]) and\n\ncherishing (depth of relationship, honor, friendship, warmth).\n
Proverbs 31:28-29: Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.”\n\nSincerely praise directly, clearly expressed.\n
Say it before others:\n\nIf you disparage your wife before others, who looks foolish?\n\nIf praise wife, others see your wisdom in choosing her.\n\nA blessed husband cares for his wife, encouraging her to grow in all ways and strengthening true companionship.\n
Leading as a servant\n\nEphesians 5:23: 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.\n\n
“head of house” egotism\n\nAll others will serve me and do my will.\n\nDeep down, this is selfish and opposed to Christ!\n\nLeadership based on Christ’s teaching and example is VERY different!\n\nWhat does it mean to be the head? It’s more of a responsibility than a privilege.\n
Mark 10:42-45\n\nServant leadership\n\nNot like the world: top - down, dictatorial, and self-serving.\n\nRather, stooping to serve, thinking of others first.\n\nMutual submission: Eph. 5.21\n
What happens when a husband is passive, not accepting his responsibilities?\n\nThe wife is put into the position of having to do that which is not her role or position.\n\nA blessed husband will choose to accept the responsibilities and opportunities to serve his wife and meet her needs. \n
What happens when a husband is dictatorial and refuses to listen to his wife?\n\nHe demonstrates that he does not trust her or accept her as his helper and companion.\n\nLook for ways to serve instead of control.\n\nInvolve wife in decisions, be concerned about her needs\n\nIn a disagreement, put aside your own desires and do what is best for wife and family while being obedient to God.\n
In a disagreement, put aside your own desires and do what is best for wife and family while being obedient to God.\n\nHow does this affect my wife’s submission...\n\nSometimes complain/tease that wife is not submissive.\n
Passive: submission is impossible, wife frustrated\n
Dictatorial: submission is intolerable, wife is afraid\n\nTrue submission when husband is leading as a servant\n
Honor your wife: 1 Peter 3.7\n\n1 Peter 3:7: 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.\n\n
1) Live with\nNot the maid, caretaker, not just physical enjoyment\nMalachi 2.14: companion\nGenesis 2.18: helper fit\n- warns: unnecessary separation\nSharing of joys, sorrows, goods, etc.\n2) Understand\nThoughtful, considerate, deferring to her wisdom\n3) Honor\nRespect, protect, listen, provide, trust, enjoy\n
1) Live with\nNot the maid, caretaker, not just physical enjoyment\nMalachi 2.14: companion\nGenesis 2.18: helper fit\n- warns: unnecessary separation\nSharing of joys, sorrows, goods, etc.\n2) Understand\nThoughtful, considerate, deferring to her wisdom\n3) Honor\nRespect, protect, listen, provide, trust, enjoy\n
1) Live with\nNot the maid, caretaker, not just physical enjoyment\nMalachi 2.14: companion\nGenesis 2.18: helper fit\n- warns: unnecessary separation\nSharing of joys, sorrows, goods, etc.\n2) Understand\nThoughtful, considerate, deferring to her wisdom\n3) Honor\nRespect, protect, listen, provide, trust, enjoy\n
1) Live with\nNot the maid, caretaker, not just physical enjoyment\nMalachi 2.14: companion\nGenesis 2.18: helper fit\n- warns: unnecessary separation\nSharing of joys, sorrows, goods, etc.\n2) Understand\nThoughtful, considerate, deferring to her wisdom\n3) Honor\nRespect, protect, listen, provide, trust, enjoy\n
1) Live with\nNot the maid, caretaker, not just physical enjoyment\nMalachi 2.14: companion\nGenesis 2.18: helper fit\n- warns: unnecessary separation\nSharing of joys, sorrows, goods, etc.\n2) Understand\nThoughtful, considerate, deferring to her wisdom\n3) Honor\nRespect, protect, listen, provide, trust, enjoy\n
1) Live with\nNot the maid, caretaker, not just physical enjoyment\nMalachi 2.14: companion\nGenesis 2.18: helper fit\n- warns: unnecessary separation\nSharing of joys, sorrows, goods, etc.\n2) Understand\nThoughtful, considerate, deferring to her wisdom\n3) Honor\nRespect, protect, listen, provide, trust, enjoy\n
Proverbs 31:11: The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.\n\nA blessed husband leads his wife by serving her, denying himself daily for his wife.\n
Help your wife (and family) get to heaven!\n\nBlessed: fear God and obey Him\n\nUnselfishly loving, Caring, and leading as a servant.\n