Somebody has said that marriage is a "mutual" relationship where the man is “mute.” While we sometimes joke about the man’s responsibilities in marriage, marriage is a reciprocal relationship. It involves obligations as well as privileges.
The apostle Peter spells them out for us when he writes, “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” (1 Peter 3:7).
There are three duties set forth here for the Christian husband.
1. He is to live with his wife permanently. The word dwell means “to settle down and be at home with.” It carries with it the idea of permanence. Regardless of the breakdown of marriage and the prevalence of easy divorce, permanence is still God’s ideal for marriage. Husbands, stay with your wives and be a good mate to them.
2. Be understanding. The word knowledge means “to be sensitive to and understanding of.” Men are capable of being very selfish. They face many pressures and irritations and sometimes forget that their wives face many pressures and difficulties also. They can become unreasonable and demanding without giving due consideration to their wives.
3. Show her respect. Peter suggests that the wife is a weaker vessel and is thus due honor in accordance with this fact. But women are weaker than men only in the physical sense. In general, they cannot lift as much weight, run as fast, or jump as high. But in every other way they are equal to or superior to men. They actually live longer; they are just as intelligent; they have a comparable emotional strength; and they are joint heirs to all of God’s blessings. They are not to be looked down upon as inferior to their husbands in any way. When the husband sees his wife as an equal in the sight of God, then he will treat his wife with due respect. It was the evangelist Billy Sunday who said, “If you want your wife to act like an angel, don’t treat her like the devil.” Sometimes we treat our most casual friends with more courtesy than we do the person we are married to. This ought to not be.
Permanence, understanding, and respect ought to characterize every Christian husband’s relationship to his wife. No one can be a good Christian and not be a good mate. So let Christ into your heart and your home and he’ll enrich both of them.