Many wives will not like what I've said. In theory, they agree with me, but they’ll respond and say, "You don't know my husband!”
Most complaints fall into one of two categories:
-"He's so cold and withdrawn, I hardly know him any more". This is very common among believing men. If it's true of you, I pray you'll repent of your sin and return to your "first love". But ladies, if your husband is this way, the Lord Jesus has something to say to you: "Love your neighbor as yourself". A neighbor is someone you know, but not someone who's especially close to you. If your husband is no more than your neighbor, then love him--"love him as yourself".
-"He's mean and cruel, treats me like garbage". This is also common in Christian families. Brothers, if you're this way, I pray God will take away your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh". But ladies, if your husband is like this, the Lord has something for you, too: "Love your enemies.” Who are your enemies? The Bible says it’s “people who curse you, hate you, spitefully use and persecute you.” What do you do with these scoundrels? You "bless them, pray for them, and do them good".
Our Lord is very sympathetic toward your plight. And He understands it, for He too was "hated without a cause". Yet the ugliness others show does not permit us to do the same. "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay-says the LORD". Not you! If your rotten husband "hungers, feed him"; it that no good cretin "thirsts, give him a drink". "Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good".
How, dear ladies, can you hear your Savior praying, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" and then retaliate against your husband? This is not love.
For the third time, now: Do you love your husband just as he is? Not as you wish he'd be or thought he was, but your husband-the real man?
Why should the wife love her husband especially if he has disappointed her and is not the man she hoped he would be?
-Loving him is good for you-No one ever lost out by obeying God. It is only as we "love one another" that our "joy becomes full". This is true--but not the reason attached to our verse.
-Loving him will do him good-Some men don't believe the Gospel and cannot be changed by preaching! But they can be changed as by their wives' "chaste conduct, coupled with fear". The wife who lives a holy life and respects her husband can justly hope for his spiritual improvement. That too is true--but not the reason Paul gives here.
-Loving him will do others good-It will set a good example for other wives. It will qualify you to help other ladies. It will earn the respect of other believers.
What is Paul's reason for loving your husband? We needn't guess because verse 5 tells us “that the Word of God may not be looked down on.”
If your neighbors hear you screaming at your husband, they won't blame you, they'll blame God! You provoked them to do it. And so you're guilty of blasphemy! You dragged the Sacred Name in the mud! Because you didn't love your husband!
By his adultery, David "gave the enemies of the LORD cause to blaspheme and to laugh at and scorn the One blessed forever.” The wife can do the same by not loving her husband. If the wife loves her husband, the word of God will be praised.
Unbelievers want happy marriages too. But because they're so selfish, they can't always have them. But you can. If you love your husband, the unsaved will "sit up and take notice". And, who knows? Maybe they'll ask "a reason for the hope that is in you". Maybe they'll see Christ in you. And want Him for themselves.
A loving marriage is a powerful witness. Tracts can be tossed in the garbage; radio sermons can be tuned-out; churches can be avoided. But no one can miss a loving marriage. In today's dark world, it's "a city that is set on a hill". By loving your husband, you "Let your light so shine before men that they see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven".
Loving your husband honors God; not loving him blasphemes Him. And so, once again: Do you love your husband?
5 Biblical thoughts to help a husband enjoy his wife and a wife to love her husband:
-You both have faults-just realize it.
-Remember that God is the author of love.
-Pray for love.
-Meditate on God's love.
-Practice love. Maybe you're not very good at it because you don't practice enough! Start working on it today with the Lord's blessing.
No comments:
Post a Comment