Jump Start # 307

1 Peter 3:7 “You husbands likewise, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with a weaker vessel, since she is a woman; and grant her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.”

  We return to Peter’s words for husbands. This passage reveals two central thoughts. First, live with her in an understanding way. That was our last Jump Start.

  The second thought Peter gives husbands is to grant her honor. The word “honor” carries the concept of excellence. In school there is the honor roll and the honor choir—the best of the best. In court, the judge is referred to as ‘your honor.’ Some colleges give out ‘honorary’ degrees to those who have made great achievements to life. Honor. The husband is to grant honor to his wife. This thought shows the attitude the husband is to have toward his wife. She is honorable. She is to be put on a pedestal. She is special.

 Peter gives us husbands two reasons to do this, other than the Bible says so. First, she is a fellow heir of the grace of life. She is equal spiritually. In the public worship the roles of men and women are different. The roles of Christ and His Father were different in bringing our salvation, but they were equals. Husbands are to grant their wives honor because she is a fellow heir. She too, is a recipient  of God’s mercy, grace and blessings. Heaven is as much for her as it is for him.

  The other reason Peter says these things is so that “your prayers may not be hindered.” To hinder something is to stand in the way or to prevent something. Failing to treat the wife as God wants, affects the man’s relationship with God. You can’t be wrong with your woman and right with God! Hindered prayers. Prayers that won’t reach Heaven. Prayers that are rejected and refused, and why, because we have failed to give our wives the honor that God says she deserves.

  I can hear some guys protesting this thinking, if she respected me then I would honor her. Have you ever come up to a four way stop the same time as another car does? You both wave for each other to go. You both start and then stop. Someone go! We do the same in marriage. We wait for the other, then we’ll get going. That’s not Bible thinking. The golden rule tells us to treat others, not the way we have been treated, but rather as we would like to be treated. Go first. Give the honor. Don’t lose your connection with God over this.

  Now, how do we give her honor? One way is how we talk to her. You talk to her, not down to her, not shouting at her. You allow her to talk. You spoil her some. You make her feel special. You do things that she wants to do. You treat her not as your property, but as a fellow heir. You seek her advice. You want her input. You share—thoughts, words, and heart.

  Honor…can you do it? Better question is, will you do it?

Roger