FACTORS THAT ENHANCE MARRIAGE RELATIONSHIPS

4 Factors for Wives and 3 Factors for Husbands

Lets Learn from the Book of 1 Peter 3: 1-8

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1 Peter 3:1-8 “The same goes for you wives:

Be good wives to your husbands, responsive to their needs. There are husbands who, indifferent as they are to any words about God, will be captivated by your life of holy beauty.

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What matters is not your outer appearance--the styling of your hair, the jewelry you wear, the cut of your clothes-- but your inner disposition. Cultivate inner beauty, the gentle, gracious kind that God delights in. The holy women of old were beautiful before God that way, and were good, loyal wives to their husbands.

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Sarah, for instance, taking care of Abraham, would address him as "my dear husband." You'll be true daughters of Sarah if you do the same, unanxious and unintimidated. The same goes for you husbands: Be good husbands to your wives. Honor them, delight in them.

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As women they lack some of your advantages. But in the new life of God's grace, you're equals. Treat your wives, then, as equals so your prayers don't run aground. Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble.”(MSG)

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Peter gives some essential factors that would enhance our marriage relationships.

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I. FOR THE WIVES

In the first six verses of 1 Peter Chapter 3, the Apostle hands wives four factors that enhance marriage relationships.

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A. Actions (vs.1-2)

The tendency for many is to read this and say, "Sure, I’ll be happy to be that kind of wife IF he’s the right kind of husband." But that misses the major point of the passage. Peter is writing here with the wrong kind of husband in mind - "even if any of them are disobedient" (v.1)

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Instead of hitting these kinds of husbands with a brick, wives are to win them back to the Lord by demonstrating the solid brick of "chaste and respectful behavior." Nagging, shaming, preaching - these only alienate the man and worsen the situation. But the powerful witness of a wife’s submissive behavior, Peter says, will attract the husband’s attention and draw him back.April 11, 2023

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To emphasize this, the Apostle uses a term for "observe" that means "to peer intently at an athletic event." Make no mistake about it, even though a husband may be stubborn and rebellious toward the Lord, he still studies and watches his wife intently when she lets her faith speak through her Godly behavior.

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B. Adornment (v.3)

Notice the words "merely external." Peter is not attacking or criticizing externals such as hairstyles and clothing. He’s not saying, ignore the way you look! Rather it is telling wives to go overboard in their preoccupation with external appearance. The adornment of inner godly character should be a wife’s primary focus.

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Some wives, however, have gone overboard in the opposite direction, focusing all their attention on the inner person and none on the outer. There’s nothing spiritual about looking like an unmade bed all day. A better balance - certainly one your husband will appreciate more- is to make outward appearance a neat and attractive complement to your inner spirit.

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C. Attitude (v.4)

The most attractive quality about wife is not outer beauty, but her inner attitude-which allows her spirit to manifest itself in two specific ways: gentleness and quiet spirit.

Gentle - the idea of genuine humilityQuiet spirit - connotes tranquility, describing woman of strong character and self-control

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D. Attention (vs.5-6)

This means "to listen or attend to one another." It’s the idea of paying close attention to someone.

Wives, don’t give away all your attention and energy to meeting needs outside the home. Start within the home, with your husband, pay attention to him, take time to listen and respond to his needs.

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II. FOR THE HUSBANDS

In the seventh verse of 1 Peter Chapter 3, the Apostle hands husbands three factors that enhance marriage relationships.

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A. Live with your wife (7a)

Staying in the same house, eating the same meals, and sharing the same beds are not all that Peter has in mind. It means "to dwell together" and it suggests familiar to one another. The proposition ‘with’ reinforces the idea of togetherness and close companionship. Therefore, it is the husband’s task to promote and maintain harmony and intimacy in the marriage relationship.April 11, 2023

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B. Know your wife (7b)

How? "in an understanding way." It means "dwell together according to knowledge." Husbands’ listen to what she’s saying. Be sensitive to her cares and concerns. Take time and initiative to discover her fears, desires, plans, and feelings. This will ‘to know your wife’ is one of the major ways husbands demonstrate their love to their wives.

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C. Honor your wife (7d)

Honor means "to assign." Husbands, you are assigned to nurture and uphold your wife’s honor. Treating her with the best manners, etc.

Honor means "precious". The husband is to consider his wife a priceless gift, a precious treasure worthy of the highest esteem. 

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1 Peter 3:8 “Summing up: Be agreeable,

be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble”.(MSG)

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If we adhere to this book’s teaching on our respective roles as wives and husbands, our marriages are going to blossom more and more.

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