With Valentine’s Day only two weeks away I want to share with you some of God’s thoughts about husbands and wives. This is great advice for the waiting-to-get marrieds, the newlyweds, the middle weds and also for those of us “golden” weds.
When I was a girl, I dreamed of my life as a wife and mother. I don’t think I ever wanted to do anything else. It was a “Cinderella” fairy tale dream; Prince Charming, lovely dress, horse-drawn carriage, and flowers, lots of flowers.
I was eight years old when I met my husband. We attended the same church and he was the same age as my older brother. It did not take long for them to become friends. With their friendship came invitations for Dave to come to our house and hang out.
At eight, I was not infatuated with him. He was just another one of the guys but at thirteen, he was a hunk! Dave was a high school athlete, an outdoorsman and a horseman. What more could a girl ask for? (At this point, Dave is probably blushing and asking me to delete some of this.)
He was my Prince Charming, the man of my dreams. When he proposed my dreams came true. I was nineteen when we married. It was not a big wedding, just a simple ceremony in my parents living room. I had my gown, my prince and my horse-drawn 1973 Blue Chevy Silverado 4×4.
April 14, 1973, I became the beloved wife of David Wilson. However, long before this Christ shared His love with me and called me His wife.
“In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. 29 No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. 30 And we are members of his body.
31 As the Scriptures say, ‘A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ 32 This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one.” Ephesians 5:28-32 NLV
…The relationship of husband and wife has been held in high regard by God, the Father, since He established the first union of Adam and Eve in the Garden. This is a relationship of both separation and union. The husband and wife both give up things they felt were important to be joined in a new relationship.
Men, as well as women, will need to see themselves in the role of the wife in these verses. We need to see what Paul was really teaching; he was giving an example of the relationship between Christ and the Church.
We will study Ephesians 5:21-32 verse by verse and in those verses we will find the depth of Christ’s love for us.
“And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” Verse 21 NLT
A successful, life-long relationship starts with submitting to one another. There will always be areas of putting someone else’s desires ahead of your own and doing it without complaining. Love is about honoring the other person by giving them priority – wanting their happiness and well being. It is a mutual submission.
Christ gave us this example of true love – He gave all. He gave His life to show us His love!