In the beginning, God saw fit for man not to be alone. God created woman and this is when the marriage relationship, and the beginning of a home and children. (Gen. 2:18-24)
God gave man guidelines for the spiritual family, the church. He also gave guidelines to govern conduct in the physical family. (a) Men are to study the word of God to know his role in the physical family. (b) Man is to be the "head" of his physical family, the same as Christ is the head of the church. (Eph. 1:22-23; 5:23)
When man leaves the financial support of his parents, he must accept the same role of responsibility for himself and his own household. In Acts 11:23, "Cleave" literally meant cemented, glued, adhered to. Our wife is to be the highest earthly loyalty, and we, as men are to live for her and to think of her and please her before our parents.
Leadership is needed in every family, and the husband must live up to his God-given responsibility. The wife is not a slave to her husband. Men must exercise love, humility, and consideration of his wife and her needs before himself.
When husbands fail to honor their wives, joyfully live with them and cleave to them, they endanger the most fundamental and intimate relationship God designed for mankind. (1 Pet. 3:7; Eccl. 9:9; Matt. 19:5)
This is the way that my Dad raised me. He did not want his kids to let anyone treat them badly but was an example as to how a husband should treat his wife. Thank you.
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