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Happy Wife; Happy Life

As a young boy, I enjoyed watching "Transformers" the cartoon version. When the new transformer movies came out in recent years, I was ecstatic. I watch these movies every time they air on the television when I am not reading, tucking kids into bed, or studying for school. The other night I was watching "Transformers: Dark of the Moon," and I heard a quote that has plagued modern culture in America. The title of this blog in fact represents the quote that I am convinced has plagued modern culture in America, "Happy Wife; Happy Life."

What does "Happy Wife; Happy Life" really mean? In the context of most men that use this proverbial phrase, it conveys a message that insinuates as long as you keep your wife happy then your life will be smooth sailing. This phrase portrays that the wife exists more in a burdensome fashion instead of a woman to be honored and loved unconditionally. The "Happy Wife; Happy Life" slogan views an individual's wife in a conditional mentality that believes as long as the wife remains happy my life remains just as pleasant.

Is this really what God expects out of the marriage relationship? God just expects a husband to keep his wife happy in order that he might receive happiness until death? What if we let the Scriptures declare what God expects out of the husband in marriage?
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself (Eph. 5:25-28).  
Husbands are commanded to love their wives with a sacrificial love that leads to a sacrificial life. Instead of trying to make your wife happy with a motivation for self happiness, you should seek to love your wife with the love of Christ in order to glorify God just as you seek to love your own body. The marriage relationship conveys a man and a woman coming together as one flesh (Gen. 2:24). Husbands should love their wives unconditionally and seek to love her just as Christ loves the church. Do you think your wife would notice the difference if you loved her with sacrificial love like Christ, and do you think she would reciprocate that love toward her husband? I would argue in the affirmative for that position.

Husbands love your wives everyday like Christ. Paul states, "He who loves his wife loves himself" (Eph. 5:28b). Why? You and your wife are one flesh, and if you love her unconditionally, you show an unconditional love for the woman that completes you and makes you whole. Therefore, instead of the saying, "Happy Wife; Happy Life" what if we quoted, "A sacrificial love toward our gift from above." Maybe husbands that show the love of Christ to their wives could impact marriages throughout culture in order for God to reveal his glory to others couples.


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