MacArthur: what Christ's love demands

Love, as God defines it, is much more an action than an emotion (cf. John 13:3–34; 1 Cor. 13:4–7). The world says, “When the feeling stops, the love is over.” That kind of “love” creates serial monogamy; it’s not the love of the Bible. Divine love is an act of selfless sacrifice. When you love in that way, you’ll do what is needed without counting the cost or analyzing the need’s merit. And your love will continue to meet the need no matter if it is received or rejected, appreciated or resented.

The husband who loves his wife as Christ loves His church will give up everything he has for his wife, including his life if necessary. While most husbands give verbal assent to that (since that prospect is so remote for most husbands), I would speculate that it is much more difficult to make lesser, but actual, sacrifices for her. Husbands, when you put your own likes, desires, opinions, preferences, and welfare aside to please your wife and meet her needs, then you are truly dying to self to live for your wife. And that is what Christ’s love demands.

MacArthur, J. (1996). Different by design (p. 59). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

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