by Roderick L. Evans

Created on: August 12, 2008

The Role and Responsibility of the Christian Husband. Being a Christian man comes with responsibilities. The same is true for the Christian husband. To clarify the role of the Christian husband, we have listed some other responsibilities associated with marriage. There are four functions that the Christian husband performs to fulfill his responsibility to his wife.

I. He functions as a Priest. The priests served as spiritual leaders in Israel. They would teach the people the precepts of the Lord as well as make sacrifices for the people. The Christian husband leads his family in worship of God. Even if his wife is in ministry and he is not, he has the responsibility to lead the family in the Lord's service.

He functions as a priest to his wife in some specific ways. The first is that he will present her concerns to the Lord (as well as his own) in prayer. This is similar to the priests who sacrificed to the Lord for themselves and others. The second is that the husband will bear his wife concerns and burdens in providing an ear for her concerns and worries.

II. He functions as a Provider. The Christian husband provides for his wife. He does this in two ways emotionally and financially. Most men have no problem with working and contributing to the financial needs of his wife. However, many men fail in providing for the emotional needs of his wife.

Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. (Colossians 3:19)

The scriptures tell men not to be bitter against their wives. Some demonstrate bitterness towards their wives by not listening to their requests or meeting their emotional needs.

III. He functions as a Protector. The Christian husband also protects his wife. He does this in three ways. First, he protects her from the spiritual attacks of the enemy. The Christian husband knows how to help his wife in spiritual warfare; quenching fiery darts of the evil one.

Second, he protects her from herself. He understands his wife and knows how to protect her from self inflicted wounds of doubt, depression, and frustration. He will not allow his wife to hinder herself because of unhealthy self-perception.

IV. He functions as a Shepherd. The Christian husband performs the duty of a shepherd for his wife. The shepherd corrects and comforts the sheep. He leads them into green pastures. The husband will lead his wife into the will of God. Through the word of God, he will comfort and correct her so that they both stand together in Christ without blame.

Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. (I Peter 3:7)

Being a Christian husband comes with great respect and responsibility. God's plan for husbands has not changed. If men husbands are to properly find their place and identity, it has to be done by using the Word and the example of Christ.

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