Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. - John 15:13
[Jesus said] You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets. - Matthew 22:37-40
And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. - 1 Corinthians 13:13
So you probably picked up on the fact that this post is about Love. To be explicit, spiritually enabled love. And more specifically, I am writing about the love between an equally yoked husband and a wife.
What it means to be equally yoked is a devotion for another time .... but suffice it to say the Word of God is clear as to God's intent and design.
Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? - 2 Corinthians 6:14
For the purpose of this devotion let's consider a marriage between a Christian Husband and a Christian Wife.
I don't know if you are familiar with the short story "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry. It pretty much summarizes the attitude that a husband and wife should have for each other.
The Gift of the Magi is a story about a young couple, Della and Jim, who are deeply in love but financially struggling. On Christmas Eve, Della sells her long hair to buy a platinum chain for Jim's watch, while Jim sells his watch to buy Della a set of combs for her hair, illustrating the theme of selfless love and sacrifice.
You see, Della was focused on the needs of her husband - Jim. And not her own. While Jim was focused on Della's needs. And not his own. Jim did not suggest that Della cut her hair so he could buy himself a watch chain. Della did not demand that Jim sell his watch so she could buy herself some combs for her hair. They each were willing to sacrifice what they wanted to meet the needs of their spouse.
In a weakened marriage, where things go wrong in the marriage, is when one or both focus on their own needs and not the other's needs. Demanding that their needs be met. The strength in a marriage comes from the love the husband and wife have for each other. Each one loving their spouse more than they love themselves.
Begin focused on the other person is called having a symbiotic relationship. A relationship designed and intended by God.
In that context, perhaps you will understand Ephesians 5:25 in a different light.
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her - Ephesians 5:25
To what extent did Jesus love the church? Right - He sacrificed Himself for her. My wife should be the most important person on this planet to me, and she is, and I should be the most important person on this planet to her.
If Ephesians 5:25 is about the husband, what about the wife? I heard someone say that the Bible does not say directly that wives are to love their husbands. While that is true, the Bible does indirectly say it in the verses I opened this post with. What's more, the Bible does say directly that wives are to submit to the husband's spiritual authority in the relationship.
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. - Ephesians 5:22
and they are to respect the husbands spiritual position and God-given responsibility in the family.
Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. - Ephesians 5:33
Willful submission requires love and trust.
I have said many times before - trust is a hard thing to gain - and an easy thing to lose.
If you are familiar with the movie Rocky - this is how Rocky described the symbiotic relationship between a husband and a wife.
Paulie: What's the story? What's happenin'? Ya really like her? Rocky: Sure, I like her. Paulie: I don't see it. What's the attraction? Rocky: I don't know. Fills gaps, I guess. Paulie: What's 'gaps'? Rocky: I dunno, gaps. She's got gaps, I got gaps. Together, we fill gaps.
My wife is strong where I am weak - and I am strong where she is weak. We fill each other's gaps!
Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.
By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone
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