What Makes Men Godly? Loving God
We are on our last week of our series 6 Characteristics of a Godly Husband! Woo-hoo! Take a moment to reflect on all we have learned and shared…
When I originally wrote out my plan for this series, the sixth characteristic, loves God, was going to be put into two parts. But instead I am going to do a brief overview because we could spend weeks–months even–on this topic: a godly husband loves God with his entire being.
1. A godly husband has an eternal perspective.
Godly husbands, godly men in general, have an eternal perspective. They know that this earthly home is only temporary. He is confident and prefers to be at home with the Lord than here on earth (2 Corinthians 5:8).
God calls us to a different life with an inheritance that “can never perish, spoil or fade” and is kept in heaven (1 Peter 1:4). A man who knows this life is but a mere breath compared to our eternity with the Father, also knows his hard work is never in vain because he works for an inheritance of the Lord.
Colossians 3:2 says, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Pay attention: this life is not all we get. God wants to give us much more. A godly husband not only understands that, but he shows that he does through how he speaks to his children when they frustrate him or when the car breaks down for the billionth time.
“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ…” Philippians 3:20
2. A godly husband is bold for the Lord.
Proverbs 28:1 says, “The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.” A godly husband sticks up for God and when he’s persecuted for doing so, he boldly continues because of God’s grace and love for him.
This doesn’t give men an excuse to be haughty and egotistic. This means that they’re confident in God because they know they don’t have strength without Him. They “humble themselves before the Lord” knowing that He will “lift them up” (James 4:10).
Because of the Cross, we have the grace to come confidently to the Lord in all circumstances. Romans 8:31 says, “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” If people are against us because we’re followers of Christ, a man who loves God stands firm in God’s protection.
“So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?’” Hebrews 3:6
3. A godly husband leads his wife spiritually.
1 Corinthians 11:3 says, “But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.” If our husbands are the head of the family, they are to set an example spiritually. Not only for their wives, but for their children as well.
Imagine waking up every morning to pray and praise God with your love. It is such an intimate thing. We can have sex with our husbands all we want–notice I said husbands–but it will never be as intimate as speaking to God together.
If our husbands don’t take the initiative to lead his family spiritually, then he’s not fulfilling his role as a godly husband. Men are meant to lead and it has been that way since the beginning (Genesis 2). We shouldn’t have to remind him to read his Bible or to pray with and for the kids. That should come from discipline in the Word and daily prayer. But he needs to keep himself responsible.
“For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.” Ephesians 5:23-24
4. A godly husband looks to God for wisdom.
Life is going to hit us in the face, that’s just how life is, but a man who looks to God for wisdom knows how to handle grief, trials, and challenges. 1 Peter 5:6-7 says, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” A man of God humbles himself because he knows that God’s ways are higher than his ways (1 Corinthians 1:25).
When we’re married, do we want our husbands to freak out at each challenge satan throws at us? No! We want to be level headed and to lean on God from the start. There is nothing stronger than a child of God who leans on His strength for wisdom and waits for God to move.
“Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom.Though it cost all you have, get understanding.” Proverbs 4:6-7
If our husbands are to have an eternal perspective, is bold for Jesus, leads us spiritually, and turns to God for wisdom, he is a man who loves God indeed. When it all comes down to it, the only characteristic on our list for a future godly husband is that he loves God.
If he loves God, everything will fall into place. If we love God and trust Him, everything will fall into place. Not on our own timeline or in our own control, but on God’s time and His leading.
Heavenly Father, You know our hearts and our deepest desires. Help us to love others deeply and genuinely. Help us to wait for our future husbands who love God with their whole beings. Help us to wait on You and Your timing. We can’t wait in our strength, but in Yours. Thank you that You’re more excited about our joy than we are. Amen.
God bless,
M.A.
