Love That Respects

Paul's description of love in I Corinthians 13:4-7 is not limited to romantic or family affection–it is the practical expression of Christlike character in every relationship. In this series, we are applying these timeless principles of love to the various roles people live out each day. The first lesson focused on husbands and how love leads through patience, kindness, and endurance. This lesson turns to wives and explores how love respects, strengthens, and supports in ways that honor both God and one's marriage.

Love That Respects: For Wives

When a wife reads Paul's words, she finds a mirror for her heart and a map for her relationships. Love that reflects Christ does not compete with her husband's leadership but complements it, encouraging unity and peace in the home.

I. Love Is Patient – Trusting God's Timing

Patience for a wife often means resisting the urge to fix, correct, or control. It means trusting that God is at work in her husband's life and that her calm endurance will speak louder than her words (I Peter 3:1-2). Patience creates the space where grace can grow.

II. Love Is Kind – Speaking Life into Her Home

Kindness in a wife's voice and actions sets the tone for the household. Her gentle encouragement becomes a wellspring of peace, nurturing her husband's confidence and her family's harmony. "The teaching of kindness is on her tongue" (Proverbs 31:26).

III. Love Is Not Jealous or Arrogant – Secure in God's Approval

Love that is free of jealousy or pride finds security in God, not in comparisons. A loving wife rejoices in her husband's successes and forgives his failings, remembering that her value is rooted in Christ's love, not her spouse's perfection.

IV. Love Does Not Act Unbecomingly or Seek Its Own – Submitting Without Losing Strength

Biblical submission is not weakness; it is the voluntary yielding of one who is confident in her worth. Just as Christ submitted to the Father's will, a godly wife chooses to respect her husband's leadership as an act of faith. She seeks what is best for both, not merely what is easiest for herself (Ephesians 5:22-24).

V. Love Bears, Believes, Hopes, and Endures All Things – Remaining Faithful Through All Seasons

Every marriage faces trials–emotional distance, financial strain, or spiritual fatigue. The love described by Paul endures by continually choosing forgiveness, hope, and faith. It believes that God can restore what the world gives up on.

Why This Matters

A wife's love becomes a powerful witness to her faith when she practices the quiet strength of patience, the beauty of kindness, and the dignity of respect. Her example can steady her home and inspire her husband to lead more like Christ. Love that respects is not silent or passive–it is steady, prayerful, and full of grace.