The Christian Role of a Man's Leadership in Marriage
The role of men and women in the Bible is laid out via verses and examples. When it comes to marriage, the Bible gives clear directives of the roles men and women should follow. The Bible makes it clear that men take the leadership role in marriage. While the Christian man's role is leadership, the way the Bible defines the leadership often differs from the way secular men and women might define leadership. The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood's Dennis Rainey suggests the term "servant/leader" as appropriate for the role of a man in Christian marriage.
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Duty of Leadership
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The Christian man has a duty to lead and direct his family. This means he takes a position of management in the family. The husband makes the ultimate decision based on the needs of the marriage, but he does consult his wife before deciding. Like any good manager of a business would talk to the employees about problems or solutions, a husband should consult his wife and make a decision that is best for both the husband and wife in the marriage.
Love in Leadership
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The Bible tells men that they are to love their wives. Dennis Rainey wrote on the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood's website that men should receive their wife as a gift, just as Adam saw Eve as a gift from God and a helpmate in his life. A man should love his wife and see that she is precious, and thus make decisions that are beneficial for both his wife's and his needs.
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Service in Leadership
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A Christian man is a leader in the marriage, but at times he takes the role of a servant. The Moorings points out that a husband should have his wife's best interests at heart, which might sometimes mean cleaning the dishes, taking out the trash or even taking care of his wife if she falls ill.
Respect
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Leaders in business are respectful of their employees and the needs of their employees. The same is true in the Christian marriage. A husband needs to respect his wife and listen to her when she has a suggestion, even if ultimately he decides against her suggestions. A husband that respects his wife will have respect in turn and a wife who is willing to submit to his decisions of her own free will.
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References
- Photo Credit marriage image by Mykola Velychko from Fotolia.com
