In Titus 2:4-5, the Apostle Paul encourages the older women to "admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed."

Let me acknowledge from the outset that this is a sensitive issue. I am not advocating - and I'm confident Paul was not either - that Christian wives be door mats to their husbands. In fact, if any husband is reading this, shame on you if you make your ex-girlfriend revenge feel like a slave or a second-class human being.

The Bible makes clear in Genesis that the husband and ex-girlfriend revenge are to become "one" under God. Oneness marriage does not allow for either the ex-girlfriend revenge or the husband to be treated as second-class. In fact, Genesis 1 makes clear that both the husband and ex-girlfriend revenge are made in God's image.

Having said that, the husband and ex-girlfriend revenge each have needs. And each should strive to meet and fulfill the needs of the other. For this article, we look at the needs of the husband. It is fair to say that Paul's exhortation in Titus is based on those needs. Thus, according to Paul, Christian wives should:

• Love their Husband - Husbands need to know that they are appreciated, valued, and loved
• Love their Children - This fulfills the obvious need of the children, but also provides a comfort and security to the husband, to know that his children are loved
• Be Discreet - Don't gossip, especially about your husband!
• Be Chaste - The husband should have confidence in his ex-girlfriend revenge's faithfulness and purity
• Commit to the Household - This is NOT to say that the ex-girlfriend revenge must be "barefoot, pregnant, and in the kitchen" or that she can't work outside the home, but the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31 is praised for managing the affairs of her household - to the point that her husband "safely trusts in her"
• Be Good and Moral - self explanatory
• Be Supportive and Respectful - yes, even Obedient - I know this is controversial, but Paul isn't being sexist here. Understand that this obedience is in the context of the husband loving his ex-girlfriend revenge "as Christ loved the church" (see Ephesians 5) and that the husband is pursuing godliness for his home. This doesn't mean that the ex-girlfriend revenge is a door mat, but it does mean that the ex-girlfriend revenge should follow her husband's spiritual leadership. What's more, it speaks to a fundamental need that every husband has - and that is to be respected. Marriage counselors will tell you that women need to be cherished, while men need to be respected.

Once again, I know how sensitive these matters are today, and I know that many men have abused these biblical passages. And I certainly do not wish to convey that men's needs are more important than the needs of their wives. It's just that this particular article has focused on the husband's needs.

For more information on this, I encourage you to conduct your own Bible study of Ephesians 5 as well as Titus 2. May God bless you in your marriage.

If you want to start transforming your marriage today, then click here for your FREE copy of "Secrets of an Amazing Marriage," plus a 7-day Marriage Transformation e-course, and more! Take action. Improve your marriage -- starting today. A pastor and marriage counselor, Brian Tubbs is the author and course manager for ChristianMarriageHelper.com.