The Holy Allegory of Matrimony

I will confess with all truth, I am a hopeless romantic. Should it happen that one of my friends or my family, or my friend's family, or the friend of a friend's family's friend were to wed I will rather go romantic and be all congratulations. I mean, what is not to like? There is love in the air, hearts pine for one another in dearest adoration, and there is sweet feelings for one another! Ah! Such beauty. But what is it that makes Matrimony so gorgeous? Holy Matrimony is beautiful because it is a beautiful representation, even allegory of Christ and His relationship with the Church! That is indeed the very reason I love it so much!
This is all seen very clearly in Eph. 5:25-33. This is the "profound mystery" of marriage and why it is strictly a Christian institution. Holy Matrimony is intended an allegory of Christ and His Church. But this is not my chief point, merely my introduction. As I passed through this passage, I was reminded of its structured guidelines for how a Christian man is to conduct himself as a husband. As holy matrimony is a picture of our relationship with Christ, we are to thus mirror Christ as the perfect bridegroom. Quite simply, we don't need psychologists' theories, therapy, or how-to manuals (and this goes for "Christian psychologists as well). Instead, we need Sola Scriptura.
So how does this break down? How are we as husbands to conduct ourselves? Why, after the image of Christ for His Bride the Church, "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her" (Ephesians 5:25). My goodness! That is sooo simple, but as Spurgeon said of Salvation, it is also so complicated and hard. So what does this mean? Well, as any good theologian will tell you, let Scripture interpret Scripture. What did Christ do for His Bride? Christ gave Himself up for her, yay unto very death on the cross.

And being found in human form, he [Christ] humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:8)

I want you to notice some very important facts in this verse, which also explains how we, as husbands, must conduct ourselves. 1.) Christ "humbled Himself". Men, you must do this constantly, as a Child of Christ, you will notice that this is the same as we do in the mortification of the flesh. We must put down our own desires and put first them of our wives (and eventually children but that is another allegory altogether). As leader of your household, you must see that you are to be the first to serve and the last to be served (John 13:5-16). I need not provide examples of this as you will know full well where to apply this; that is, in all of your life. If you hold anything back, it is much the same as when we attempt two masters (Matt. 6:24; Luke 16:13 [this in reference to idols and our service to God Almighty, keep in mind that this is still the allegory of Christ's relationship with us and our relationship with Him; thusly it often goes both ways]). 2.) Christ "became obedient". No, this is not an argument for feminism. It was not Christ who became obedient to the Church, but rather, to God Almighty "even to death on the Cross". So also we become obedient to Triune God. We must obey the Word, as outlining the Law of God and further put forth by Christ in Matt. 5. We must obey Christ as He commanded us to live in His earthly ministry. We must obey the Holy Spirit as He inspired the apostles post Ascension. How then are we to be godly husbands? Through Humility and Obedience to God's Holy Word. This is laid out to us in the first verses of Eph 5:

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:1-2)

Soli Deo Gloria