A Husband's Role in MarriageVoorbeeld

Be a Servant

Who do you want to be when you grow up?

It’s a popular question—one we have likely asked or have been asked plenty of times. Yet, for all the possible answers one could give, there seems to be an unwritten hierarchy. For example, “astronaut” is a great answer. But what about the person whose job is to help the astronauts into their suits? Or the one who drives them to the launch platform? What about the person who cleans up mission control after everyone goes home?

The servant’s position is not one we generally aspire to. We like to be in charge and in control. Being a servant somehow feels less than.

But Jesus tells husbands to love their bride the way He loves His church and serve them.

Jesus had every right to demand to be served; instead, He chose to serve others. He humbled Himself. He washed their feet. He let himself be tortured and killed on the cross, all for the benefit of His bride, the church.

Jesus’ servanthood wasn’t weak or passive. He didn’t ignore the will of the Father (Luke 22:42), stop serving God to make others happy (Mark 3:21-35), or shy away from telling hard truths (Matthew 23:13-39). He was a servant with a clear purpose—to reconcile us with God.

A husband’s role as a servant must also be purpose-driven. We don’t serve out of weakness or to simply avoid conflict; we serve out of a clear desire to help our bride grow closer to God.

When you serve your wife, what is your motivation? Is it out of some “happy wife, happy life” philosophy, or are you intentionally pointing your bride to Christ?