2018-02-03
1 Peter 3:7 NKJV
A good marriage is built on mutual sacrifice. Adam had to sacrifice something near and dear to him in order to get Eve – a rib. And your wife will know you love her when you’re willing to give up things that are important to you in order to meet her needs and promote her well-being. Too many men want to be married but still function as singles. They don’t want to sacrifice any time, attention, or resources for the benefit of their wives. They don’t want a wife; they want a maid. They want to marry someone so they can be served. No – it’s the opposite! The Bible says you and your wife are “heirs together.” That means she is an equal partner. So her opinions, thoughts, and perspectives matter. Yes, as the leader of your home you may make the final decision, but when you don’t get your wife’s input and consider her viewpoint, holy wedlock can turn into unholy deadlock. Your wife will respond to you when she feels cherished and valued (See Ephesians 5:29). You say, “But my wife’s as cold as ice.” How did she get that way? Ice only stays icy in a cold environment. So instead of complaining, work at changing your environment. Husbands are thermostats and wives are thermometers. Husbands determine the climate and wives thrive or shrivel accordingly. There’s a reason your wife is “cold.” And there’s a solution: Warm her up and watch her melt! When you begin to love, nurture, cherish, and protect her as Christ did the church, you’ll have a whole new woman in your arms. Try it and see.
Soul food: Num 16-18; Matt 12:15-21; Ps 107:33-43; Prov 3:27-28
1 Petrus 3:7 ABA
‘n Goeie huwelik word op wedersydse opoffering gebou. Adam moes iets naby en kosbaar opoffer om Eva te kry – sy rib. Jou vrou sal weet dat jy lief is vir haar wanneer jy gewillig is om die dinge wat vir jou belangrik is op te offer om aan haar behoeftes te voldoen en haar welstand te verbeter. Te veel mans wil getroud wees, maar steeds as ‘n enkellopende funksioneer. Hulle wil nie tyd, aandag of hulpbronne opoffer tot voordeel van hulle vroue nie. Hulle wil nie ‘n vrou hê nie; hulle wil ‘n bediende hê. Hulle wil met iemand trou sodat hulle bedien kan word. Nee – dit moet die teenoorgestelde wees! Die Bybel sê dat vroue ‘…saam met julle die ware lewe sal kry wat God vir julle sal gee…’ Dit beteken dat sy ‘n gelyke vennoot is. Dus maak haar opinies, gedagtes en perspektiewe saak. Ja, as die leier van jou huis mag jy dalk die finale besluit neem, maar jy moet ook jou vrou se insette en siening oorweeg. Jou vrou sal positief op jou reageer wanneer sy gekoester en gewaardeerd voel (sien Efesiërs 5:29). Jy sê, ‘Maar my vrou is so koud soos ys.’ Hoe het sy so geword? Ys bly net in ‘n koue omgewing ys. In plaas van om te kla, begin werk daarvan maak om jou omgewing te verander. Mans bepaal die klimaat waarvolgens vroue floreer of ineenkrimp. Daar is ‘n rede hoekom jou vrou ‘koud’ is. Daar is egter ‘n oplossing: Maak haar warm en kyk hoe smelt sy! Wanneer jy begin om haar lief te hê, haar te versorg, haar te koester en te beskerm soos Christus met die kerk gedoen het, sal jy ‘n nuwe vrou in jou arms hê. Probeer dit en kyk wat gebeur.
Sielskos: Num 16-18; Matt 12:15-21; Ps 107:33-43; Spr 3:27-28
2018-02-02
1 Corinthians 7:10 NLT
Having God’s blessing on your marriage is contingent upon your operating according to His rules. To enjoy His protection, peace, and prosperity you must follow His instructions. For example, you can spend hours arguing and still not resolve the issue, when if you’d just followed God’s rules, the argument could have been over in a matter of minutes. And both parties would have been satisfied at the end of the process. When your car breaks down, you take it back to the dealership. Why? Because they sold it to you and they know how to fix it! God performed the first marriage. So when your relationship gets into trouble, if you’re wise you’ll talk to Him about it before talking to each other. Furthermore, when you get married with the attitude, “If this doesn’t work out I can always get a divorce,” you’re running in the opposite direction from the truth of God’s Word. Paul writes: “For those who are married, I have a command that comes not from me, but from the Lord. A wife must not leave her husband. But if she does leave him, let her remain single or else be reconciled to him. And the husband must not leave his wife” (vv. 10-11 NLT). Yes, there are some acceptable reasons for divorce, but they are the exception and not the rule! Recently a Hollywood celebrity spent millions of dollars on her wedding and then divorced her husband two months later on the grounds of “incompatibility.” When you say, “Till death us do part,” you say it before God and you’re supposed to mean it.
Soul food: Num 11-13; Matt 11:20-30; Ps 107:17-22; Prov 3:21-24
Efesiërs 5:25 NLV
Ons definieer die woord ‘liefde’ op verskeie maniere. Mense sê dinge soos, ‘Ek is lief vir sjokoladekoek,’ of ‘Ek is lief daarvoor om rugby te kyk.’ Wat hulle regtig bedoel is dat hulle van hierdie dinge hou of dit geniet. Die Bybelse definisie van liefde is baie dieper as dit wat ons geniet of opgewonde maak en dit wat ons emosioneel aan mekaar verbind. Om iemand lief te hê is om hulle welstand na te streef en dit ‘n prioriteit te maak. Liefde se eerste belang is altyd: ‘Hoe dra hierdie aksie van my tot my maat se welstand by?’ As dit nie ‘n bydrae maak nie – of as dit die teenoorgestelde doen – is dit nie liefde nie. Die Bybel sê, ‘Getroude mans, julle moet julle vroue liefhê net soos Christus liefde aan die kerk bewys het toe Hy sy lewe daarvoor gegee het… Op dieselfde manier moet mans hulle eie vroue liefhê. Hulle moet hulle liefhê asof hulle hulle eie liggame is. ‘n Man wat sy eie vrou liefhet, het dus eintlik homself lief. ‘n Mens haat mos nie jou liggaam nie, maar voed en versorg dit…’ (verse 25-29 NLV). As ‘n man, kan jy twee dinge uit hierdie Skrifgedeelte leer: 1) Ons is almal inherent selfsugtig. Een van jou grootste uitdagings sal altyd dus wees om jou vrou se belange voor jou eie te stel en om gewillig te wees om jou eie agenda daarvoor op te offer. 2) Ons moet oefen om sensitief te wees. Dink aan hoe sensitief jy vir jou eie liggaam se pyne en behoeftes is en pas dan dieselfde beginsel aan jou vrou se versorging toe. Dis ‘n groot verantwoordelikheid, maar God sal jou die genade voorsien om dit te doen. Put dus krag uit sy genade!
Sielskos: Num 14-15; Matt 12:1-14; Ps 107:23-32; Spr 3:25-26
Ephesians 5:25 NLT
We throw the word “love” around loosely, leaving it to be defined in many different ways. People say things like, “I love chocolate cake,” or “I love football,” or “I love that television show.” What they really mean is they “like” and “enjoy” these things. The Bible definition of love goes much deeper than what entertains and excites us, and what makes us feel emotionally attached to one another. To love someone is to pursue their well-being and make it a priority. Love’s first concern is always: “How does this action contribute to my partner’s well-being?” If it doesn’t – or if it does the opposite – then it isn’t love. The Bible says, “Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her…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. No one hates his own body but…cares for it” (vv. 25-29 NLT). As a husband, you can learn two things from these Scriptures: (1) We are all innately selfish. So your greatest challenge will always be to put your wife’s interests ahead of your own, and be willing to sacrifice your own agenda to do it. (2) We must practice being sensitive. Think how sensitive you are to the aches and needs of your own body, and apply that same principle to caring for your wife. You say, “That’s a tall order!” Yes, and the God who commands you to do it will give you the grace to do it day by day. So draw on His grace!
Soul food: Num 14-15; Matt 12:1-14; Ps 107:23-32; Prov 3:25-26
