(A lil something for the husband and future husbands…)
“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” -Ephesians 5:31
Having 5 kids and an amazingly beautiful wife I can honestly say that marriage and family is always a work in progress! You never actually perfect it, but the goal is to “work at it” daily. One of the reminders I use to help me illustrate Christ like love for my wife is very rudimentary but has kept me out of the dog house. Fellas, take note! What man wakes up in the morning and only puts on one shoe, shaves half his face, combs half his hair, brushes only his bottom row of teeth, etc…? This odd question serves as a framework for how I view my wife according to the bible. Let’s look at our key verse in proper context. Ephesians5:28-31 states: “So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”
Here’s the kicker. If we men become “one flesh” with our wives according to verse 31, then as a husband, what I do for myself I MUST be willing to do for her. Verses 28 & 29 illuminate my point. We don’t typically neglect half of our body as I illustrated in my opening scenario! We don’t put on one shoe, or shave half of our face! In the same vein and cannot neglect my wife. Simply put, if I go to the store and purchase something for myself, I am always conscious of the fact that I am one flesh with my Christine, thus I always purchase something for her of equal or greater value! Guys I must tell you, this concept has kept me far from the dog house and reaped great benefits if you know what I’m saying!
As husbands we have a responsibility to lead in a selfless manner. Life is not longer to be lived as if we are still in the bachelor pad consumed with our own interest. When we said “I do” It didn’t only mean “bring on the wedding night benefits! “I do” translates into “WE” two becoming one.
Dig: (if applicable) Ask yourself: have I been living in my marriage as if its only about me and not WE?
Delight: (if applicable) What are some ways you can celebrate how you’ve become one with your spouse and delight in your spouse as unto the LORD?