THE MAN'S ROLE IN GOD'S ORDER
The woman's role has been the focus of much writing and speaking on the subject of divine order in the family. Not so much has been said about the place God has given to man. Surely the man has been no more faithful than the woman to God's order. Scripture contains much on the role of the man.
First, in the family, the man is to be an example of what Christ is to the Church. That is, he is to be head (Eph. 5:23). In addition he is to provide for his own (1 Tim. 5:8); he is to love his wife as his own body (Eph. 5:28, 33); he is to give his wife honor (1 Peter 3:7); he is to render to his wife due benevolence (1 Cor. 7:3). On the negative side, he is not to be bitter against his wife (Col. 3:19), and he is not to provoke his children to anger, thereby discouraging them (Col. 3:21).
The failure of husbands to accept and fulfill their God-given responsibilities has contributed to the rise of feminist movements which are not according to God's order. As husbands we ought to realize that when we deny our true role in the family, our wives may be tempted to forsake the role God has given them and to rebel against submission to the men. This is not only happening in the world but also among Christians today.