Have a Godly marriage.
Today's Bible reading from Ephesians 5 and 6 contains a wealth of practical information on how to live pleasing to the Lord. It covers so many areas including morality, our speech, marriages, parenting and employee/employer relations (Eph. 6:5-9). Then of course there are the scriptures in Eph. 6:10-17 regarding the armor of God. Such a wealth of material in two short chapters.
I want to zero in on Eph. 5:22-33 regarding marriage. The divorce rate among Christians is not any different than the divorce rate of the unsaved. This is a sad state of affairs. God intends marriage to be an object lesson to the world regarding his relationship with the church. Paul states this in verses 31-32 when he says "a man will leave his father and mother to be united with his wife and the two will becomes one flesh. This is a profound mystery but I am talking about Christ and the church." The kind of love Christ has for the church, a man is to have for his wife.
Paul starts by talking to wives, that they should submit to their husbands as to the Lord; that as the church submits to Christ so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. This does not mean that wives are to become doormats to be walked on because if a husband is fulfilling his role, he is going to love his wife as much as Christ loves the church. Wives are not the only ones to do the submitting. Eph. 5:21 says, "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." The command to submit is all inclusive.
Some people say that marriage is a 50/50 proposition but this is not a true statement. Marriage is a 100/100 proposition with both husband and wife giving all of themselves to each other without reservation. As you give, in return it will be given unto you; the husband loving his wife as his own body and the wife respecting her husband as the head of the household.
I'm going to pick on women for awhile since I am writing from a woman's perspective. Proverbs 31 tells of a wife of virtuous or noble character. She is of more value to her husband than rubies. Why rubies? A ruby is worth more than a diamond carat for carat. In the King James Version of the Bible the word "virtuous" is used in Prov. 31:10. "Who can find a virtuous woman?" And in verse 29, "Many daughters have done virtuously but thou excellest them all." Old language but full of meaning. The words "virtuous" and "virtuously" in scripture are only used regarding women. The broader meaning of those words from Strong's Concordance is "strength, capability, skill, valor, wealth, army, troop, warrior." A virtuous wife has the strength of an army in protecting her husband and family. A note in the Amplified Bible says: Most unfortunately this description of God's ideal woman is usually confined in readers minds merely to its literal sense -- her ability as a homemaker, as was Martha of Bethany. But it is obvious that far more than that is meant. When the summary of what makes her price "far above rubies" is given (verse 30) it is her spiritual life only that is mentioned. One can almost hear the voice of Jesus (Luke 10:42) saying, "Mary has chosen that good portion which shall not be taken from her."
Years ago I learned a valuable lesson. I was so eager for certain things to take place in the church my husband was pastoring that I found myself instructing him. At the time I didn't realize what I was doing, but a coolness entered into our marriage that hadn't been there before. I began praying about it and one day I read a phrase in a Christian magazine that hit me right between the eyes. "A wife has no more right to instruct her husband than the church as to instruct Christ." Wow!!! Of course we wouldn't think of instructing Christ, but many women instruct their husbands. That doesn't mean we can't be their counselor and sounding board. A good counselor only helps a person evaluate their options and leaves the decision up to the person they are counseling. I asked my husband's forgiveness and the coolness was gone. I was careful never to fall into the trap of instructing him again.
God is so faithful to show us our faults when we truly come seeking answers. He wants Christian marriages to show to the world his love and passion for his church. In every area of life God's way is the best way.
Tomorrows Bible Reading - 1 Chronicles 24-25, Ezekiel 34, Philippians 1-2
God is good all the time,
Naomi Brinkman
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