Who is the boss in a marriage?

So I haven't blogged in a few days. Something has been rubbing me the wrong way and I just didn't know how to approach it. The subject of 'who takes the role in a marriage' keeps coming up.

I myself have been married for 4 years and I've always looked at it as, both are equal in a marriage and they should work as a team. I kept wondering to myself what God thought about this.

Most men think they are the "Head of the household." The bible does say the man is just that "the man of the house." But does this mean the man should completely ignore the woman's feelings and do what he thinks is best?

According to the bible, we are supposed to trust God. We are supposed to cooperate voluntarily out of love and respect for God and for that person, ideally submission is mutual.

Ephesians 5:21
And further, you will submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Both the man and the woman are called to submit to each other in a marriage. What does this mean exactly?

For the wife this means to willingly follow her husband's leadership in Christ.
For the husband this means putting aside his own interests to care for his wife.

Each must care for the happiness for the other. According to the Bible, the husband is the spiritual head of the household, and the wife is supposed to acknowledge that and respect it.
But a husband who honors Christ will not take advantage of his role, and the wife who honors Christ will not undermine her husband's leadership.

(In 1 Corinthians 7:32-38 it talks about how a husband must worry about how to please his wife and how a wife must worry about how to please her husband.)

Every decision must come from God in a marriage, and the husband makes all the spiritual decisions. But he must acknowledge his wife's feelings as well as his own. So even though the husband has the spiritual say, they each must work as a team! Working to make the other happy as well as their LORD and Savior happy.

1 Peter 3:1-7
In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands, even those who refuse the Good News. Your godly lives will speak to them better than any words. They will be won over by watching your pure, godly behavior.
Don't be concerned about the outward beauty that depends on fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should be known for the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.
That is the way the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They trusted God and accepted the authority of their husbands. For instance, Sarah obeyed her husband, Abraham, when she called him her master. You are her daughters when you do what is right without fear of what your husbands might do.
In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat her with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God's gift of new life. If you don't treat her as you should, your prayers will not be heard.

So, if your married or are engaged to be married hear this...

Pray together. Be quiet when you have a problem and you will hear what God is telling you to do. Trust in the Lord and Never give up hope! Respect one another and don't take advantage of your authority God has given you. Love your spouse as you love God, but make God your number one! Remember we are equal partners in God's gift of new life.

When you love and trust God and one another, this will not be hard to do.

Think about it. How do you treat your spouse?