We have a discussion group on Wednesday nights where we talk about marriage. The most important Scripture in my opinion about marriage is the following.
Ephesians 5:25 – Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her
I don’t suggest that the success of our marriages is only based on the husband’s ability to love his wife as Christ loves the church, but, it would go a long way to solving many, if not most, of our marriage problems. My opinion. Do you have one?
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6 comments:
The success of any marriage depends upon to what extent a husband is prepared to give up his life for his wife, not to be a doormat, but to demonstrate that he is willing to place her needs and well-being over his own. Sadly there is more emphasis placed on the whole "wives, submit to your husbands" thing without considering the entire context of Paul's exhortation.
The more I make the conscious decision to give up my wife for my wife (ie placing her cares, concerns and well-being over my own), the easier it is for her to respond and hold up her end of Paul's exhortation. A successful marriage is hallmarked by mutual submission.
Michael
I agree with Michael in reference to "wives submitting" and lots of husbands reading that and taking it totally out of context. If you read the verse JUST before that, which states "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ."
I think this verse is ignored far to often when SOME men think of submission. And if you Really think about the part about wives submitting to their husbands, you have to keep in mind exactly what it is saying. Submit to your husbands as to the Lord. So if a husband wants his wife to submit to him, then he better have himself in line with God.
Now of course I still have MUCH to learn about being a good husband, but one thing I can tell you is this... if you love your wife as Christ loved the church, then you will love your wife with a servants heart. My translation of that: HUSBANDS may be "in charge" but they do more "submitting"
You ever heard of the "honey do list"
Bottom line- after the initial "love bug" (let's be honest, tangibles that are associated with that)begin to lessen and wear off, then it becomes the hardest "job" if you will, to work out. Let's be honest too, in any partnership, it takes TWO. Both genders need to bring each of their creator given gifts to the partnership for the union to flourish. It takes TWO!!!
For me it is easy for my wife to love but she has to work at respect and for me its easy to respect her but I have to work on loving her. There is a reason why God used the words he did. Neither one of us is perfect (lord knows I am far from that) and I have hurt my wife at times with in the things I have done or said. It is hard to love when one can be so selfish. We are more in love then we were when we got marriage but still have a long way to go, I have a long way to go but I wouldn't want to go with out her.
RE the poll question. Interesting to note that only Women were asked the "do you feel Loved". That question wasn't asked of the men. Just the respect question.
Another good Blog would be to ask folks to describe what Love is to them. That's a deep deep, word meaning diff things to folks, on diff points of our age/life journey. Good debate I bet.
Wives were asked if they felt loved because surveys say that is the most important thing to wives, to be loved.
Husbands were asked if they felt respected because surveys say that is the most important thing to husbands, to be respected.
It was not meant to say that husbands shouldn't feel loved or wives respected - simply asked for the most asked need.
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