To Love Your Husband

"The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; that they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed."  Titus 2:3-5

When I look at "to love their husbands" in the verses above,

I must ask, What is Love? 

I love food, tea, my cozy bed. 

I love my children, my parents, and my enemies.

I love a good game of scrabble, 

my horse, and visits with friends. 

The English language fails us when

we have only one word to describe

the many differing feelings associated with strong emotion, that which we call love.

If you have been around Biblical preaching much,

you have probably heard the Greek terms for love, 

Phileo and Agape. 

Phileo describes a tender love between close friends. 

Agape refers to a self sacrificing love. 

It is a love that gives to others even if nothing is given back.  Which do you think Paul used in this verse (4) to describe the love a wife has for her husband?

Answer: The tender, affectionate,

passionate kind of love that emphasizes 

enjoyment and respect between close friends:

Phileo. 

Are you surprised? 

Agape is the term Paul used 

when he said for husbands to love their wives (Eph. 6).

Too often, we as wives fail to understand 

what God requires of us, and therefore love our husbands

how ever we see fit. 

We can easily become so preoccupied

with the duties and responsibilities of our homes 

that we fail to nurture tenderness and passion 

in our relationship with our beloved. 

Or, we can become so busy serving him,

that we overlook enjoying him.  

By loving our husband with a Phileo love,

we bring honor to the gospel.  

Such love is lived out regardless of his response. 

It is unconditional, and God honoring.

To "Phileo" your husband is the very reason you were made.  You are his companion first; his helper.

  Remember, it was not good for man to be alone. (Gen. 2)  What he truly needed was a best friend to share 

his life journey, his hopes and dreams, his soul.  

This is the high and noble calling of a godly wife.

"Can you imagine anything that sets forth the gospel more brilliantly before the world than the godly behavior of a woman who passionately adores her husband, tenderly cherishes her children, who creates a warm and peaceful home, who exemplifies purity, self control, and kindness in her character and who gladly submits to her husband's leadership? " -Carolyn Mahaney, Feminine Appeal, pg 29