Man, do you feel great love for yourself—do you love yourself as the Bible itself teaches? If so, then you are able to love your partner, the one who was given to you by God.
It is good to remember that loving one’s neighbor is one of the commandments. That is why we can say that you must love your wife and respect her, honoring her at all times.
If we practice this, then we are fulfilling the Word of God and the commands established by Him, because in this way we are able to combat everything negative that the enemy sends against human beings to lead them away from God’s purpose.
Loving the companion God gave you is a command that every man must obey:
Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
Ephesians 5:33
In other articles about women, we have learned that a woman must respect and love her husband. However, this respect and love must be mutual, and the verse we have just seen teaches us to love the woman—not merely to love her, but it says that a man must love his wife “as himself.”
In this teaching, the apostle Paul spoke about marriage while at the same time referring to Jesus and the church, making the comparison that just as Jesus loves His church, so husbands should love their wives.
Brothers, let us fulfill this great teaching. Husbands, respect your wives and, above all, love them. Wives, do the same with your husbands, and your lives will be blessed in the Lord.
Marriage was designed by God as a sacred union, not only to share life in material things, but also to build together in the spiritual realm. Loving one’s wife means far more than romantic gestures; it also involves providing care, understanding, patience, and support in every circumstance. When a man loves his wife in this way, he reflects the same love that Christ poured out for the church—a love that is sacrificial and true.
Many marriages weaken because the husband forgets this essential principle. Love should not be conditioned on mistakes or difficulties, but should be constant and steadfast. The Bible shows us that Jesus did not love His church because of its perfection; rather, He loved it even when it was full of faults and sins. In the same way, a man must learn to love with patience and forgiveness, showing that his commitment is stronger than any trial.
Loving one’s wife as oneself also implies caring for her in every sense. Just as you care for your own body—feeding it, allowing it to rest, and seeking your well-being—in the same way you should care for your partner’s heart and her emotional and spiritual health. She is not merely a suitable helper, but a gift from God placed at your side so that you may walk together toward eternity. When a husband honors his wife, he is also honoring the Lord who gave her to him.
Likewise, this love brings tangible blessings to the home. A house where respect and understanding reign becomes a refuge of peace. Children who grow up in an environment where husband and wife love one another according to the Word will have a living example of what true Christian love means. They will learn to value marriage and to respect others, because they first saw their parents do so.
Another important point is understanding that love requires daily effort. It is not enough to say “I love you”; it must be demonstrated through actions: with words of encouragement, gestures of support, quality time, attentive listening, and a willingness to sacrifice personal comfort for the good of one’s spouse. True love does not seek its own, but gives itself in constant service, just as 1 Corinthians 13 teaches.
Loving also means forgiving. In every relationship, differences and disagreements arise, but when the love of Christ is present in the marriage, forgiveness flows more easily. Resentment and pride destroy relationships, while humility and mercy strengthen them. The husband who knows how to forgive and who leads with gentleness is following the example of Jesus, and his marriage will be strengthened in the Lord.
Dear reader, if you are a husband, take this divine command seriously: love your wife as yourself. Do not see it as a heavy obligation, but as an opportunity to reflect the character of Christ in your home. And if you are a wife, respond with respect, for in this way marriage becomes a living testimony of God’s grace. Mutual love, grounded in the Word, is the foundation of a solid home, and from that love blessings will flow for you, for your children, and for all who surround your family.
May every Christian marriage take this teaching as an unshakable foundation: let the husband love his wife and the wife respect her husband. Just as Christ reigns in the church, may He also reign in every home, bringing peace, unity, and abundant blessing.