The husbandman literally refers to a farmer, to the person who tills/cultivates a land. The word "husbandman" incidentally can be broken into two- husband and man and the two words may represent the same being – the man of the house. Whether in the literal or colloquial sense, the truth is that the word "HUSBANDMAN" connotes responsibility and stewardship. The farmer takes upon himself significant responsibilities to patiently farm the land and yield fruits/arable crops for living things in general and human beings in particular.

Necessity is laid on the man of the house, the husband of one wife, the potential father of the heritage of the Lord, to be fully responsible for his household. There are many responsibilities that come with being the man of the house and apparently, today's write-up cannot take care of all. However, we shall be focusing on two major responsibilities of man- providing love and leadership in the home, and these in an exemplary manner.

Why is this man saddled with these heavy responsibilities? The Scripture says in 1 Cor 11:3. “The head of every woman is man, the head of man is Christ and the head of Christ is God”. On behalf of God who instituted the family, the man is the head of the home and he has the responsibility to provide godly leadership in his home. It is imperative to take a closer look at this scripture. Between God the father and Christ, there is a perfect relationship, a sense of oneness and mutual understanding and working together. The next level is the relationship between the man and Christ. Often, this relationship is not optimal or optimized, that is, the man falls short in the relationship between him and his Head, Christ. Perhaps, the major reason why couples have lingering issues and discord between them is because the man's relationship with Christ falls short of what it should actually be.

Many men who have not submitted themselves to the authority and leadership of Christ are expecting submission from their wives. Truly, the Scripture (Ephesians 5:33) teaches and expects that a woman should submit to her own husband unconditionally. However, a man who is not totally submissive to his own head, Christ, puts his wife in a difficult position when it comes to her submitting to him. It is far easier for a woman to submit to a man who is submissive to Christ. She simply follows her husband's example in his submission to Christ and of course a man who is truly submitted to Christ is not likely to place an uneasy yoke or burden on his wife as he is more likely to be in the will of God, per time.

Therefore, the challenge to men is to be like Christ and submit to Him in all things. Christ Himself performed and is still performing the stewardship roles of loving and leading of His church. He is the head of the church, but that headship came not on a platter of gold, but came with the ultimate sacrifice of giving His life for the church. Despite the imperfections of the church, Christ has an eternal commitment to the church... Matt 16:18- I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. As Christ accepted and declared the church to be His bride, so also must the man see his wife as his (his responsibility). It is only a man who understands his Christ-like stewardship role over his wife that will be ready to sacrifice any and everything for his wife (and children). Such a man is the real deal and God wants to accomplish this in the life of every man who is willing and obedient.

A principal stewardship role of the man is to love his wife primarily, and by extension the fruit of their bodies (their children). A woman thrives on the affections, praises and the loving support of her husband. She can be all that God wants her to be with the encouragement and backup of her head, her husband. As a married man, if you want to get the best out of your wife, show her love consistently – in words and actions, and you may see the desired changes that you wanted in her all along.

There is an unlimited potential in every wife that could only be triggered by warm affectionate love of her husband. A married woman cannot survive (at least emotionally) without her husband’s loving support and affections. The infallible word of God says in Proverbs 30:21-23 (NIV) - “Under three things the earth (not just a building – emphasis mine) trembles, under four it cannot bear up… an unloved woman who is married”….. It is much better for a wife never to have entered a marriage relationship than to be in one that lacks love from her husband.

In the family, first and foremost, the man has to be God’s representative or his image to the members of his household. The scripture says God is love (1 John 4:8). The man under the authority of Christ is to set an example in every way for his wife and children. He is to love God supremely and His words, as well and lead his family in the same direction.

Selah!

Dr. Akinlolu Omisore

Uncle Akin is a husband, father, teacher of the Bible, marriage counselor, associate Professor of Community Medicine, and an author who we dare to call our friend and leader. I got to know about his selfless and loving life as a husband via my colleagues before I met him for the first time. And, he has remained such a wonderful example, through God.

© Selah Series 2021