Honoring Your Marriage

[AlexB23]

Hello folks. Yes, single guy here, but this devotional is important for everyone, whether married or not, as we must treat each other with respect in our families and relationships.

Date​	August 5, 2024 | Honoring Your Marriage​
Verse​	Ephesians 5:21-25 (NIV): "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her." Proverbs 19:7 (NIV): "Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the Lord." Hebrews 13:4 (NIV): "Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral." 2 Corinthians 6:14 (NIV): "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?" Colossians 3:19 (NIV): "Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them."​
Explanation​	These Bible passages provide guidance for married couples in the Christian faith regarding their relationships, responsibilities, and conduct.​ Ephesians 5:21-25 emphasizes mutual submission between husbands and wives, with both parties respecting each other as equals before God while acknowledging distinct roles within marriage (husband as head of the household). This passage encourages husbands to love their wives selflessly, just as Christ loved the church. Proverbs 19:7 highlights that a prudent wife is from the Lord and underscores the importance of honoring marriage by both partners. A wise woman contributes significantly to her family's well-being and spiritual growth. Hebrews 13:4 calls for the sanctity of marriage, urging couples to keep their marital relationship pure from adultery or any form of sexual immorality, as God will hold them accountable for such actions. 2 Corinthians 6:14 cautions against forming unholy alliances with those who do not share the same faith, emphasizing that righteousness and wickedness are incompatible and cannot coexist harmoniously. This passage serves as a reminder to maintain strong spiritual bonds within marriage. Colossians 3:19 instructs husbands to love their wives gently and kindly without being harsh or abusive, underscoring the importance of treating one's spouse with dignity and respect.
Societal Relevance​	To treat each other better, Christian couples should prioritize communication, understanding, compassion, forgiveness, patience, and mutual submission. In times of conflict, they can seek guidance from God through prayer, engage in open dialogue, listen attentively to their partner's concerns, and practice empathy and humility. Couples are also encouraged to support each other spiritually by attending church services together, reading the Bible regularly, praying for one another, and participating in faith-based activities as a family. For myself, as a single guy, these verses do not yet apply, however, treating folks with respect and dignity as equals is important, regardless of relationship status. In the modern world, one hears a lot about people getting abused or breaking up. In fact, nearly 40-50% of first marriages end in divorce in the US. Divorce rates are going down in the US, since the 1990s. Luckily, if one’s marriage where both partners are Christian and are regular churchgoers, the divorce rate is 27-50% lower.

 

[AlexB23]

So guys, I have decided to make my devotionals more interactive, by introducing follow up questions for you to discuss amongst each other.

Follow up questions for discussion:

1. What specific actions can couples take to maintain a pure marriage, bed as stated in Hebrews 13:4?

2. How might understanding the distinct roles of husband and wife within marriage help foster respect and equality, as suggested in Ephesians 5:21-25?

 

[Oompa Loompa]

So guys, I have decided to make my devotionals more interactive, by introducing follow up questions for you to discuss amongst each other.

Follow up questions for discussion:

1. What specific actions can couples take to maintain a pure marriage, bed as stated in Hebrews 13:4?

2. How might understanding the distinct roles of husband and wife within marriage help foster respect and equality, as suggested in Ephesians 5:21-25?

1. Refrain from all sexual immorality to include pornography.

2. Husbands and wives should follow the example of the Triune God. Although ontologically equal to each other, the Father has established headship over the Son and Holy Spirit who are voluntarily submissive. Likewise, although men and women are ontologically equal, the husband should have headship over the home and the wife voluntarily submits to the husband.

 

[AlexB23]

1. Refrain from all sexual immorality to include pornography.

2. Husbands and wives should follow the example of the Triune God. Although ontologically equal to each other, the Father has established headship over the Son and Holy Spirit who are voluntarily submissive. Likewise, although men and women are ontologically equal, the husband should have headship over the home and the wife voluntarily submits to the husband.

Amen to that. I like your responses.

 

[Diamond72]

Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her."

Amazing how men talk about how the women are to be sub servant to them. Yet they never talk about how Jesus went to carvery and sacrificed Himself for the Bride. I bet if you started a post on how the wife is to submit to the husband you would get lots of posts before they shut it down. But talk about how the husband is to sacrifice himself for her and there is not even one response.

 

[AlexB23]

Amazing how men talk about how the women are to be sub servant to them. Yet they never talk about how Jesus went to carvery and sacrificed Himself for the Bride. I bet if you started a post on how the wife is to submit to the husband you would get lots of posts before they shut it down. But talk about how the husband is to sacrifice himself for her and there is not even one response.

Yep, cos we live in a fallen world. I believe women and men are supposed to be treated equal, and how Jesus sacrificed himself to start the church (Bride). My post talks about how both sides of a marriage must have a mutual respect for each other. Sadly, some fundamentalists misread the verse(s) to assert dominance on their wives.

 

[Diamond72]

Sadly, some fundamentalists misread the verse(s) to assert dominance on their wives.

Women know how to dominate men but they let the men think they are not being dominated. My wife and I take care of each other. Even I do things for people and they pay her back.

 

[AlexB23]

Women know how to dominate men but they let the men think they are not being dominated. My wife and I take care of each other. Even I do things for people and they pay her back.

Both sides know how to dominate each other, so both sides are at fault. It is good that you and your wife take care of each other as equals.

 

[Sunflower39]

Honestly, I wouldn’t mind my husband having headship over the home if he consistently made decisions that were in all of our best interests, but there are times when I’m right and he’s wrong. I feel that I’m better off making the decisions sometimes because he doesn’t always get it right.

 

[AlexB23]

Honestly, I wouldn’t mind my husband having headship over the home if he consistently made decisions that were in all of our best interests, but there are times when I’m right and he’s wrong. I feel that I’m better off making the decisions sometimes because he doesn’t always get it right.

Yep, some people are better off letting their partner make the decisions. For you, it is better that your husband makes the choices say 40% of the time, and you make better decisions. For other married couples, it might be better for both husband and wife to have an equal say. Ideally, maybe give your husband a chance to correct his mistakes, and try making a few more decisions, so that the marriage is balanced, but hey, I am just a single guy in his 20s who has never married, and therefore has no experience.

Also, I like your denomination. As a Catholic who used to be nondenominational, Anglicans and Catholics are practically more similar to each other compared to nondenominational.