How to Love My Husband and Children (Titus 2:4)

Could you clarify Titus 2:4… how to love my husband and children? The term love has two aspects. One is to have godly care, devotion, and affection and the other is charity, which is love in action. “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.” (Rom. 12:9-10)

To love our husband and children, our heart and actions are to be in line with these, putting them first above ourselves and flesh. Titus 2:1-2 gives clarity on how to love our families, providing general
admonitions that will help. We are to speak things that are in line with “sound doctrine,” but also have a heart to “be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience” as we live and interact with them. Verse 3 relays that aged women are to help the younger, modeling behavior that becomes “holiness, not to be false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things.” These will encourage a loving, clear headed attitude, enabling them to be wise with a consistent submissive attitude. Through godly examples, the younger is taught “To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.” (verse 5)

Similarly, the instruction given for servants in verses 9-14 can be assistive in loving our husbands and children, with the goal of understanding the practical aspects of continuing to learn the grace of God doctrine. It will empower and enable us to love “yet more and more” our family, maintaining a godly attitude in the midst of challenges that arise on our faith journey: “Looking for that blessed hope…” (Titus 2:13) Thus, in order to learn how to love your family, study all of Titus 2.