I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. (1 Timothy 2:8-10)

Striving To Be A Godly Spouse

Marriage is the original institution created by God to showcase His creation and wisdom. God made man from the dust of the ground and formed woman from the rib of Adam. Immediately, God shows that two different creatures are formed from different beginnings, but with the desire, the two lives meld into one cohesive union of love, respect, and godliness. Happiness in the home comes from seeking greater faith to be godly people of God. Sin destroyed the union of God and man, and sin is what destroys a relationship between husband and wife. A marriage is made up of two sinners trying to find their way before God. Any success can only be found in seeking God’s will.

Striving to be a godly spouse is the desire to create a home where God is the center of everything. The Lord does not become a prosthetic that is used only in case of emergencies. Faith directs the husband’s heart to fulfill his role of guiding the home toward God. The wife demonstrates her faith in God by showing it to her family. A husband and wife embark on a journey of self-discovery, learning about one another and realizing they are relative strangers who have fallen in love. That journey must also be accompanied by learning about how God wants the family to function in each of the roles the spouse assumes. A home that has no leadership and guidance will fail, and a home that is troubled by authority will also fail.

God designed the home as a place of happiness through the holiness of His will. Seeking to be a godly spouse is molding every part of life to the will of the Father. Men will learn how to love their wives and treat them with the respect and honor that God expects. Women will discover the beauty of submission in a godly role, showing the power of God’s design. Decisions made between a husband and wife always begin with the will and word of God. A godly family is a praying family. Their lives are guided daily by showing worship to the Father as they grow in their relationship to one another. Husbands are spiritual leaders in the home. Wives are spiritual teachers in the home. A union of like faith is the bond that holds them together.

Seeking greater faith as a godly spouse begins with seeking a greater faith. Paul reminds disciples that faith comes from hearing the word of God. Greater faith can only come from tireless hours of meditation and discussion of the will of the Lord. One of the first habits young couples must create is their private worship together. Uniting the home under the banner of truth will help instill godliness, so that each spouse can help the other reach Heaven. There will be challenges in marriage that can only be answered by looking at the word of God. When problems arise in the marriage, God is the first one to whom we turn for answers. Godly husbands and wives forgive one another, bear with one another, exhort one another, and all the “one another’s” found in scripture. Each Christian principle is a part of a godly spouse. The husband adds virtue to the faith, including knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, and love. Wives will follow the same pattern.

Godly husbands and wives will seek the things that are above because their minds are set on Christ. As the elect of God, godly spouses will put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, and a host of other godly characteristics that define the Christian life. Wives will submit to their husbands as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands will love their wives and not be bitter against them. The home will be guided by the example of Jesus Christ, who loved the church, His Bride, and was willing to die for her. A godly home is made from godly husbands and wives seeking the divine blessings of the Father. No marriage is perfect, but when it is perfected in the will of God, husbands and wives will demonstrate godliness in their lives to the glory of the Father. Seeking greater faith is finding ways to be a godly spouse to the glory of God.