We Christian husbands know that marriage is top priority, second only to our relationship with God. God wants us to protect our relationship with Him and with our wives no matter what we are doing, wherever we are, and whoever we are with.
The same goes for our jobs. God wants us to honor Him in our jobs. And because we fear Him, we also take care of our marriages whatever job we have, wherever our jobs take us, and whoever we are working with. Colossians 3:22-23 tells us,
"Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men."
When our jobs take us places, however, we all feel a loneliness and a longing to be with our wives. We long to be in the presence and the company of respective partner, best friend, and lover - our very wives. As such, we desire to simply come home.
If we don't work, however, we will fail to earn enough to provide for our family's needs. We will fail to honor God and provide for our wives. We will put our marriage at risk. 1 Timothy 5:8 tells us,
"But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."
Because of this, many of us husbands have to brave the feeling of loneliness just to provide for our families. We have to set boundaries in place, keep ourselves away from temptation, and do our best to honor God and our wives even as we make the day to provide for the people who matter: our spouses and kids.
Lonely no more
This article is meant for Christian husbands whose work takes them away from home. Here are a few Bible verses to encourage and comfort you, and remind you of important things as you do your best to honor God and your spouse at work.
Sacrificially and single-mindedly love your wife always - Ephesians 5:25-28
"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself."
As her partner, consider your wife always - 1 Peter 3:7
"Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered."
Be affectionate only to your wife, not to others - 1 Corinthians 7:3-5
"Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control."
