Love and respect forgives
"Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly. Children, always obey your parents, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged." (NLT) Colossians 3:18-21
So, as we dedicated this month to "Relationships, Marriage and Parenting", I believe most of the scripture references for messages were based on – husbands’ love thy wives and wives submit to thy husbands. This is because these are the two most important ingredients that hold the Christian home together. They are indeed very essential to the survival of most relationships. Unfortunately, some of us still falter in this regard in our relationships. We hurt the people that God has joined us to, be it in our marriages or potential marriageable relationships..
Marriage therefore should not be seen as a simple and easy field where we can do all that we want by hurting and making the people in our lives feel unappreciated. The Bible has been clear on its position on marriage and how couples should care for each other (Ephesians 5:21-33). What this tells us is that the institution made by God is not an engagement between two perfect people. It is indeed a commitment of two imperfect beings (man and woman) with the perfect being (God). As a result, we are bound to err along the way but when that happens, let’s not run like frightened chicks, instead let’s put to practice what our supreme counselor teaches us – letting go of our pride. Proverbs 16:18 signals Pride goes before destruction and haughtiness before a fall.
Letting go of our pride in our relationships, is our way of telling God, we understand the importance of His institution and the seriousness of the implications that our neglect or refusal can bring on the sanctity and sanity of the home He has blessed/joined. It also means we value the role He has delegated to us as parents or partners to first of all love and respect as commanded; and more importantly, to bring our children to walk in the light of the Lord.
Letting go of our pride means love (husband) understands respect (wife) and respect (wife) values love (husband). Letting go of the pride that can cause untold pain and potentially disrupt the home means love and respect are ready to go the extra mile and that means to forgive each other and to find joy once more in the comfort of the home God blessed. In doing so, God’s presence is ever present and true happiness is achieved, even in the mist of the seemingly unforgivable conditions that others may find unbearable to handle.
Today, take a good look at the husband or wife God has blessed you with. Or better, the potential partner God is blessing you with. Remember the circumstances of your meeting. Imagine your life without such a person and know God has been faithful to you irrespective of your current marriage crisis – emotional, financial, family etc.
Above all, remember marriage is a perfect institution but the people in the institution are imperfect, so love and respect forgives.