Marriage Tune-Up Step 4: Honor Your Wife

1 Peter 3:7 says a godly husband is to give honor to his wife. But what does that mean? Here are 8 ways you can:

1. You honor her when you esteem her as highly valuable, treat her as a queen, as a precious gift from God, and handle her carefully (like fine china). Proverbs 31:10 Do something nice for your Wife, out of the blue. Stop by the grocery store, or Costco and pick up a bouquet of flowers for her, they don’t cost much, but the value to her is way more. Offer to do the evening meal, including clean up. Just let her relax and tell her you want her to feel like an honored queen for the evening.  You can do that…
2. You honor her when you praise her. Proverbs 31:28-30. She is at least your equal (positionally before God) and worthy of your praise, so find things to praise her for, in person, in public, and in your prayers. Think of 3 things you can praise your Wife about, and get them all said before bed. You can do that too…
3. The way you treat your wife is about glorifying God, not glorifying her. That is a difficult concept, but give it a try, the next item may help:
4. 1 Peter 3:7 also says to give her honor. That means it’s an act you do, sometimes it costs you, sometimes it’s hard and you are to do it even if she doesn’t deserve it. Jesus didn’t save you from your sins because you deserved it, He did so because He loved you, even when you were a terrible sinner, and he wanted to be gracious to you. Emulate Jesus.
5. The next line in that passage says you and your wife are co-heirs of God’s grace. If you both are true Christians, you both have eternal life by the grace of Jesus, act like that. How?…by graciously forgiving her, not letting things bother you, overlooking her faults, and seeking the Kingdom of God as Matthew 6:33 says.
6. Honor her as the weaker vessel. (Not like one of the guys.) God created her a little bit different than men to help the man. Her being weaker is not derogatory at all, but means a husband is to understand her, respect her, and love her by putting her first. It means to protect her. She needs a strong man to count on, and to lead the family and her, but also to listen to her, and consider her input as equal partner in the marriage. Ephesians 4:31-32 says to put away such things as being angry at her and yelling at her (clamor), but to be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving. You can do that…
7. Do you want God to answer your prayers? Look at the end of 1 Peter 3:7. “so that your prayers may not be hindered.” WHOA! That means this stuff is serious…
8. You honor your wife, your family, your relatives, and God by single minded faithfulness to your Wife. (period) Hebrews 13:4 -5
   Do not, never ever, don’t even think about defiling the marriage bed. Keep sex pure and between you and your wife only, all forms of it…including viewing Porn. If you get stuck in that ditch, there are men in your church to help push you out. Or, I suggest this book to help you.
   You have no reason to look at another woman lustfully Matthew 5:28. God gave sex for marriage (only) as a wedding present. You take any form of it outside your marriage, and you violate and trash God’s gift. Woe to you. It’s not worth it. Proverbs 6:27-29 (actually read 20-35) says “whoever touches her shall not be innocent” which means you WILL be caught.

Please work on honoring your Wife, God commands you to, and she will love you for it. You can do it!