1 Peter 3:1-7
1 Peter 3:1-7 uses Sarah and Abraham as an example for husbands and wives. That should be an encouragement because Sarah and Abraham were not a perfect couple. But they made it, and so can you. How can we have the kind of home God wants us to have?
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Faith
“For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves…” (1 Peter 3:5a).
In spite of their faults, Abraham and Sarah are listed in Hebrews 11 as champions of faith. You will never have a successful home apart from God, and you will never know God without faith.
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Acceptance
“Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives” (1 Peter 3:1).
Accept your God-given roles. Husband, if you do not accept the headship that God has given you, you are a slacker and a failure as a husband. Wife, you are never more like the devil than when you are un-submissive, and never more like Christ than when you are submissive.
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Contentment
“Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God” (1 Peter 3:3-4).
Abraham was very wealthy, but he did not flaunt or abuse his wealth. You can get along without almost anything except God and one another. “And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content” (1 Timothy 6:8).
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Forgiveness
“Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing” (1 Peter 3:8-9).
That little spirit of bitterness, that unwillingness to forgive, that grudge, will destroy more homes than anything else. “’Be angry, and do not sin’: do not let the sun go down on your wrath” (Ephesians 4:26).
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Communication
“He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit” (1 Peter 3:10). “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Proverbs 18:21).
Our English word intimacy comes from the Latin word intima, which means “inmost.” Make time for communication. Get out of the house together and just love one another.
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Romance
“Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife…” (1 Peter 3:7a). That word dwell literally means “to live with,” and has the implication here of sharing the same bed. Never let the physical part of your marriage grow cold. The word honor comes from a root word which means “precious.” Of all human relationships, you should be number one in your spouse’s life, and your spouse should be number one in your life.
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Prayer
“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” (1 Peter 3:7).
Learn to pray things through together. “Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain” (Psalm 127:1).
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