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I have family that b/c of a woman like this, the marriage dissolved (neither of them are Christians, just for the record).  She spent every penny he made and he couldn't keep up. 

Our household is def not like this. I won't go into detail lest it seem slander to my husband, but I'm a penny pincher. lol Coupons, thrift stores and sales!  Woot!  If you think of it, please pray for my hubby. He could use it.  He tries so hard to provide, and he is so confused lately as to what God wants him to do (work for self, work for someone else or a mix of the two). He needs clear direction.

I read a book last year that really emphasized on how a man's indentity is big time wrapped up in how well they provide for their family, and if they fail at that, they feel like a complete and utter failure.

This sounds like an excuse to divorce your wife to me.  "I married the wrong woman and now I'm a lifetime looser because God's arm is too short to do anything about 'her!'"

What's the point of the dialog?  There is no admonition to let Christ live through you toward the wayward wife; nor is there an admonishment, like in Peter, for a wife to win a wayward husband by her godly life.

You figure men are so weak in faith that they can't expect the Lord to do the same thing through them toward a wayward wife?

No hope at all for anyone who isn't or who didn't get your idea of what a perfect wife is.  That's how it came across to me.

I am responsible to love my wife like Christ loves the Church (and only He can do that through me); and my wife is responsible to see to it that she respects me (and only He can do that through her).  My half of that does not depend upon whether my wife is doing her half.  If finds favor with God when we suffer for doing what is right [walking by the spirit].

Best regards,
Craig

The feminine side of BudandLaura wrote this Craig, lol. I wrote it for women who might not realize they are a ball-and-chain woman. This blog convicted me! It's taken from the book for married women CREATED TO BE HIS HELP-MEET by Debi Pearl. I'm all for happy, beautiful, and in-love marriages, especially if we claim to be Christians! Yes, the bible tells the man to have that unconditional love for his wife, however, that does not give us women the right to be rotten wives! Our job is to obey God's mandate to women and let God work on the man's conscience about how he treats us. Right? Can I get a wittness? Laura 

Our job is to obey God's mandate to women and let God work on the man's conscience about how he treats us. Right? Can I get a wittness? Laura

Yes Laura.  And vice versa. :-)  What others do is not excuse for us not to walk by the spirit.  In that day slaves (and women) had no "rights" but were admonished to do what's pleasing in God's sight even if they were suffering unjustly.  I believe that we have a problem with that attitude because we aren't walking by the Spirit.

The proof of that is to be a "man" and speaking to the scriptures in Ephesians that talk about the submission of wives to their husbands; and vice-versa.  Same thing with the verses speaking to "why not rather be defrauded, but you go to court before unbelievers..." and those types of things.  Our only "right" is to bow before the Lord and let him be Lord.

But still it isn't just suffering because God really does "like" us and when we refuse to retaliate in some manner, only then does God really have a "right" to deal with the offending party...and He will, but not necessary according to our schedule!

So the bottom line is (for me as a man): I cannot use my wife's disobedience to justify my own; and neither can she.  At the same time, if we will actually trust Him, He is well able to work on our wayward spouse.  And even if they never come around we still don't have an excuse to get in the flesh ourselves; it isn't about us, it's about God being glorified through us in whatever circumstances we may find ourselves.

Blessings!
Craig

So DENISE. :-)  You've been seated in heavenly places in Christ.  A man can't bring you down sis...you have to set your mind on earthly things before you'll "come down."  You're staying where you're seated may not bring him up; but coming down will definitely not bring him up.  ;-)

Best regards,
Craig

Thanks everyone for comments! Ladies do your parts, Men, do your thing too.