You husbands must be careful of your wives, being thoughtful of their needs and honoring them as the weaker sex. Remember that you and your wife are partners in receiving God’s blessings, and if you don’t treat her as you should, your prayers will not get ready answers. 1 Peter 3:7

We’ve got two things going here, guys. First, God is telling us to be careful how we treat our wives. “Being thoughtful of their needs.” That’s the key…. “their needs” not ours. This is one time the Golden Rule does not apply.

If you are doing unto your wife as you would have her do unto you, you’re in big trouble. Her needs are different than yours. They are polar opposites. Your need is to sit in front of the tube and watch SportsCenter. Hers is to sit and talk about the kids. Dude, turn off the TV and talk about the kids! You need to find out what pleases her and do it. If you will, she will do what pleases you. Trust me. It just works that way.

But the other thing we have going is the opportunity to teach our children lessons in building a strong marriage, one that will be fulfilling and last a lifetime. They should learn everything they need to know about marriage by watching us. Not by watching the sitcoms.

Remember, you’re either showing them how to do it or how not to. Either way, they’ll take their cue from you.
Be careful of the little things that can bring down a marriage. You can build a house of brick that will withstand a hurricane but you can destroy it by chipping away, little by little, at the mortar between the bricks. A little chip here, a chip there - hardly means a thing – but over the years, the mortar erodes and the house collapses.

Watch the little jabs, the small, cutting remarks you make to your wife. They may seem small. I mean, it’s not like you’re having an affair. It’s not a hurricane. But over time, it will wear your spouse down - enough is enough - and the marriage collapses. And you’re standing there, scratching your head, wondering what went wrong.

Listen to Peter. Be thoughtful of her needs.

  1. Take time today to consider your wife’s needs. Think of three things that are important in her life. Then do what you can to meet those needs. It will take time and effort but it will be time and effort well spent.

  2. Guard against any cutting remarks. Do whatever it takes, if it means biting your tongue, but do not let any criticism of her come out of your mouth. No More! Replace it with praise. Begin to restore the mortar with words of encouragement.

  3. Pray with her tonight. Before you go to bed, take her hand and pray with her. And let her hear you tell God what a lucky guy you are to have her as your wife. Do it, Brother! Just do it.