Husbands, Love Your Wives, and Be Not Bitter Against Them!

 
Dennis Edwards

When I was busy writing my on-line book, found here, I would sleep with a notebook and a pencil or pen at the side of my bed. I would often wake in the early hours of the morning around 6:00 am or earlier with a whole chapter, or complete ideas for a chapter, running through my head. In the Psalms we read that God prepares our thoughts in the night seasons, Psalm 16:7; and His voice is the hand of a ready writer, Psalm 45:1c. In other words, as we sleep, God guides or prepares our thoughts for the next day. 

He is spiritually working, perhaps through our guardian angels, to plant ideas or thoughts in our heads to help us fulfil the mission He has for each and every one of us. He is also waiting for us to pick up pen and paper and yearn to hear His voice. When we do, He will speak to us. As we begin to write, we find that we are moved along with His guidance. He fills us by the power of the Holy Spirit with His wonderful words of life and our pen becomes His tongue.  

In one of those early morning experience, I remember being half awake and in a dreamlike state, when God spoke to my heart, as though I was hearing an audible voice: “Husbands, love your wives and be not bitter against them.” I woke up and wrote down the verse so as not to forget the experience later in the morning. I lay there meditating. Was I letting bitterness into my heart and becoming bitter against my wife? My initial reaction was, why was God giving that verse to me? I’m not bitter against my wife. But knowing that the voice that I heard in the morning was God’s voice, I did not just brush it aside. I searched my heart. 

As I did, I found that indeed I was becoming bitter against her. I was guilty and God was right. He helped me correct my attitude and save my marriage. If we let bitterness grow in our relationship with our wives, or in any other relationships we have with others, that bitterness will destroy the relationship with that individual. However, it will not end there. The roots of bitterness grow, like some underground roots of a tree or a plant grow and sprout new growth. In like manner, bitterness does not stay stagnant, but spreads itself and negatively affects others touched by its toxicity.

Why does Apostle Paul tell husbands to love their wives and not be bitter against them? Could it be that the normal state of affairs is for husbands to get bitter with their wives? Let’s read what Paul wrote to have a better understanding.

“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him. 

"Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. … Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: and whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.” Colossians 3:12-24.

The parallel section is found in Ephesians 5:19-33.

“Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always to God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of the Lord. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and He is the Saviour of the body. Therefore, as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. 

"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it; that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So, ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loves his wife loves himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord the church: for we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless, let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.”

Four times in the above passage Apostle Paul admonishes the husband to love his wife. Four times also he admonishes the wife to be subject to her husband. It may be that the tendency of the husband is to get bitter against his wife and stop loving her. It may be that the tendency of the wife is to lose respect for her husband and stop submitting to him. God addresses those two tendencies speaking to both parties individually.

Apostle Peter, also, addresses the subject of marriage. We will read his passage in 1 Peter 3:1-12.

“Likewise, you wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; while they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters you are, as long as you do well, and are not afraid with any amazement (or sudden calamity). 

"Likewise, you husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. Finally, be you all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful (kind-hearted), be courteous: not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that you are thereunto called, that you should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue  (or pursue) it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.”

Just before starting the above passage Apostle Peter had been talking about the importance of the Christian being willing to submit himself to the ordinances of man, to the king, and unto governors. He told servants to be in subjection to their masters, even to the froward. He admonishes us, because of our conscious toward God, to be willing to “endure grief, suffering wrongfully.” He says the Christian attitude must be one that accepts patiently unjust suffering, “because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow His steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth: Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judges righteously,” 1 Peter 2:21b-23. From here, Peter launches into his discourse on marriage and starts with the wives being subject unto their husbands.

Would we reduce the number of divorces if husbands and wives followed the admonitions of the Apostles? Perhaps it was easier for the 1^st century wife to submit to her husband, who was usually the supporter of the home, while the wife was the home caretaker. However, the Bible is full of examples of wives leading their husbands astray. Eve disobeyed Adam and God when she ate from the forbidden tree of knowledge of good and evil. Jezebel of Ahab continually led him to do evil. Herodias of Herod devises a plan to end the life of John the Baptist against her husband’s conscience. David’s wife Michal, the daughter of Saul, despised David because of his public display of dancing abandonly before the Lord, as a result, she was barren unto her death. Marian, the sister of Moses, rose up with her older brother, against Moses, and was stricken with leprosy.

On the side of good, we see Pilate’s wife who warned him to not condemn Jesus, but Pilate feared the power of the Jewish leaders and their influence in Rome, over the good counsel of his wife. We see Queen Ester using her influence with the King for good to save her people from destruction at the hand of their enemies. We see Rebekah of Isaac deceiving her husband with her son Jacob so that Jacob would receive the blessing. In the later Jewish writings, they say that Rebekah was following God in her deception, because it was God's will to bless Jacob, and Rebekah was more aware of that truth than her aged husband Isaac. In the story of Ruth, we see a young widow, submit to her mother-in-law and marry a distant wealthy older relative and end up in the genealogy of Jesus.  

The subject of the submission of the wife to the husband seems to be old-fashion and out of date in today’s culture. Are we, as God’s children, to follow the culture or the Word of God? The author of Romans answers: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God,” Romans 12:1-2. 

Apostle Paul said it clearly that husbands and wives should submit themselves one to another, Ephesians 5:21. Someone in the marriage needs to take the lead and start walking in love, whatever that entails. Jesus said He came not to be ministered unto to but to minister. He said, He did not act as a Master, but rather as a servant and admonished us to serve one another. He said the greatest amongst us, would be he that was doing the most serving.

In our marriages, are we serving one another? Are we complementing one another? Are we laying down our lives for one another? “They two shall be one flesh,” are we acting like one unit, even if we have different ministries and callings? Are we husbands, acting like Christ? Or are we demanding respect and obedience. Maybe if we acted like Christ and followed Jesus closely our wives would naturally respect us and submit to us. Are we making it difficult for them by being disobedient to God? Are we lording our position of authority over them, rather than being an example unto them? I don’t have the solution, but I believe Jesus is the solution. He is the way the truth and the life.

If one of the members of the marriage will follower Jesus closely and treat their mate as Jesus would, I believe the marriage could be salvaged. However, if both parties are turning a blind eye and ear to the admonitions in Scripture, it is going to be hard to find a solution. Don’t expect your mate to be the one to follow God. You must do it. Take up your cross and follow God and lay down your life in love for your mate and God may very well bring new life into your marriage where it seems only darkness and death remain. 

Take the path of humility and obedience to God and trust that He will bless your efforts in submission to the King of Kings. Win your wife or husband to Jesus by your kind and loving sample. “For now, abides faith, hope, and love, these three; but the greatest of these is love,” 1 Corinthians 13:13.

Originally published October, 22, 2024.

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“Maridos, amad a vuestras mujeres y no seáis ásperos con ellas”.

 

Dennis Edwards

Cuando estaba ocupado escribiendo mi libro en línea, dormía con un cuaderno y un lápiz o bolígrafo al lado de mi cama. A menudo me despertaba en las primeras horas de la mañana, alrededor de las 6:00 a. m. o antes, con un capítulo completo, o ideas completas para un capítulo, dando vueltas en mi cabeza. En los Salmos leemos que Dios prepara nuestros pensamientos en las estaciones nocturnas, Salmo 16:7; y Su voz es la mano de un escritor listo, Salmo 45:1c. En otras palabras, mientras dormimos, Dios guía o prepara nuestros pensamientos para el día siguiente. Él está trabajando espiritualmente, tal vez a través de nuestros ángeles guardianes, para plantar ideas o pensamientos en nuestras cabezas para ayudarnos a cumplir la misión que Él tiene para todos y cada uno de nosotros. Él también está esperando que tomemos lápiz y papel y anhelemos escuchar Su voz. Cuando lo hagamos, Él nos hablará. Cuando comenzamos a escribir, descubrimos que somos movidos por Su guía. Él nos llena con el poder del Espíritu Santo con sus maravillosas palabras de vida y nuestra pluma se convierte en su lengua.

En una de esas experiencias matutinas, recuerdo que estaba medio despierto y en un estado de ensoñación, cuando Dios habló a mi corazón, como si estuviera escuchando una voz audible: “Maridos, amad a vuestras mujeres y no seáis ásperos con ellas”. Me desperté y escribí el versículo para no olvidar la experiencia más tarde en la mañana. Me quedé allí meditando. ¿Estaba dejando que la amargura entrara en mi corazón y me estaba volviendo áspero con mi esposa? Mi reacción inicial fue: ¿por qué Dios me estaba dando ese versículo? No estoy áspero con mi esposa. Pero sabiendo que la voz que escuché en la mañana era la voz de Dios, no la descarté. Examiné mi corazón. Mientras lo hacía, descubrí que, en efecto, me estaba volviendo áspero con ella. Yo era culpable y Dios tenía razón. Él me ayudó a corregir mi actitud y a salvar mi matrimonio. Si dejamos que la amargura crezca en nuestra relación con nuestras esposas, o en cualquier otra relación que tengamos con otras personas, esa amargura destruirá la relación con esa persona. Sin embargo, no terminará allí. Las raíces de la amargura crecen, como algunas raíces subterráneas de un árbol o una planta crecen y brotan nuevos brotes. De la misma manera, la amargura no se queda estancada, sino que se propaga y afecta negativamente a otros afectados por su toxicidad.

¿Por qué el apóstol Pablo les dice a los esposos que amen a sus esposas y que no sean amargos contra ellas? ¿Podría ser que el estado normal de las cosas sea que los esposos se amarguen con sus esposas? Leamos lo que Pablo escribió para tener una mejor comprensión.

“Vestíos, pues, como escogidos de Dios, santos y amados, de entrañable misericordia, de benignidad, de humildad, de mansedumbre, de paciencia; soportándoos unos a otros, y perdonándoos unos a otros si alguno tuviere queja contra otro. De la manera que Cristo os perdonó, así también hacedlo vosotros. Y sobre todas estas cosas vestíos de amor, que es el vínculo perfecto. “Y la paz de Dios gobierne en vuestros corazones, a la cual asimismo fuisteis llamados en un solo cuerpo; y sed agradecidos. La palabra de Cristo more en abundancia en vosotros, enseñándoos y exhortándoos unos a otros en toda sabiduría, cantando con gracia en vuestros corazones al Señor con salmos e himnos y cánticos espirituales. Y todo lo que hagáis, sea de palabra o de hecho, hacedlo todo en el nombre del Señor Jesús, dando gracias a Dios Padre por medio de él. Casadas, estad sujetas a vuestros maridos, como conviene en el Señor. Maridos, amad a vuestras mujeres, y no seáis ásperos con ellas. … Padres, no provoquéis a ira a vuestros hijos, para que no se desalienten. Siervos, obedeced en todo a vuestros amos terrenales, no sirviendo al ojo, como los que quieren agradar a los hombres, sino con sencillez de corazón, temiendo a Dios. Y todo lo que hagáis, hacedlo de corazón, como para el Señor y no para los hombres, sabiendo que del Señor recibiréis la recompensa de la herencia, porque a Cristo el Señor servís”. Colosenses 3:12-24.

La sección paralela se encuentra en Efesios 5:19-33.

“Hablando entre vosotros con salmos, con himnos y cánticos espirituales, cantando y alabando al Señor en vuestros corazones; dando siempre gracias a Dios el Padre, en el nombre de nuestro Señor Jesucristo; sometiéndoos unos a otros en el temor del Señor. Las casadas estén sujetas a sus maridos, como al Señor; porque el marido es cabeza de la mujer, así como Cristo es cabeza de la iglesia, la cual es su cuerpo, y él es su Salvador. Así que, como la iglesia está sujeta a Cristo, así también las casadas lo estén a sus maridos en todo. Maridos, amad a vuestras mujeres, así como Cristo amó a la iglesia, y se entregó a sí mismo por ella, para santificarla, habiéndola purificado en el lavamiento del agua por la palabra, a fin de presentársela a sí mismo, una iglesia gloriosa, que no tuviese mancha ni arruga ni cosa semejante, sino que fuese santa y sin mancha. Así también los maridos deben amar a sus mujeres como a sus mismos cuerpos. El que ama a su mujer, a sí mismo se ama. Porque nadie aborreció jamás a su propia carne, sino que la sustenta y la cuida, como Cristo a la iglesia; porque somos miembros de su cuerpo, de su carne y de sus huesos. Por esto dejará el hombre a su padre y a su madre, y se unirá a su mujer, y los dos serán una sola carne. Gran misterio es éste; pero yo digo esto respecto de Cristo y de la iglesia. Por lo demás, cada uno de vosotros ame también a su mujer como a sí mismo; y la mujer respete a su marido.”

En el pasaje anterior, el apóstol Pablo amonesta cuatro veces al marido a amar a su mujer. También amonesta cuatro veces a la mujer a estar sujeta a su marido. Puede ser que la tendencia del marido sea amargarse contra su mujer y dejar de amarla. Puede ser que la tendencia de la mujer sea perder el respeto por su marido y dejar de someterse a él. Dios se dirige a esas dos tendencias hablando a ambas partes individualmente.

El apóstol Pedro también aborda el tema del matrimonio. Leeremos su pasaje en 1 Pedro 3:1-12.

“Asimismo vosotras, mujeres, estad sujetas a vuestros maridos; para que también los que no creen a la palabra, sean ganados sin palabra por la conducta de sus esposas, considerando vuestra conducta casta y respetuosa. Vuestro atavío no sea el externo de peinados ostentosos, de adornos de oro o de vestidos lujosos, sino el interno, el del corazón, en el incorruptible ornato de un espíritu afable y apacible, que es de grande estima delante de Dios. Porque así también se ataviaban en otro tiempo aquellas santas mujeres que esperaban en Dios, estando sujetas a sus maridos; como Sara obedecía a Abraham, llamándole señor; de la cual vosotras sois hijas, siempre que hagáis el bien, y no temáis ninguna calamidad repentina. “Vosotros, maridos, vivid con ellas sabiamente, dando honor a la mujer como a vaso más frágil, y como a coherederas de la gracia de la vida, para que vuestras oraciones no tengan estorbo. Finalmente, sed todos de un mismo sentir, compasivos unos con otros, amándoos fraternalmente, misericordiosos, amigables; no devolviendo mal por mal, ni maldición por maldición, sino por el contrario, bendiciendo, sabiendo que fuisteis llamados para heredar bendición. Porque el que quiera amar la vida y ver días buenos, refrene su lengua del mal, y sus labios no hablen engaño; apártese del mal, y haga el bien; busque la paz, y sígala. Porque el sí del Señor está sobre los justos, y sus oídos atentos a sus oraciones; pero el rostro del Señor está contra los que hacen el mal”.

Justo antes de comenzar el pasaje anterior, el apóstol Pedro había estado hablando sobre la importancia de que el cristiano esté dispuesto a someterse a las ordenanzas del hombre, al rey y a los gobernadores. Les dijo a los siervos que se sometieran a sus amos, incluso a los superiores. Nos amonesta, debido a nuestra conciencia hacia Dios, a estar dispuestos a “soportar penas, sufriendo injustamente”. Dice que la actitud cristiana debe ser una que acepte con paciencia el sufrimiento injusto, “porque también Cristo padeció por nosotros, dejándonos ejemplo, para que sigamos sus pisadas; el cual no hizo pecado, ni se halló engaño en su boca; quien cuando lo maldecían, no respondía con maldición; cuando padecía, no amenazaba, sino encomendaba la causa al que juzga con justicia”, 1 Pedro 2:21b-23. A partir de aquí, se lanza a su discurso sobre el matrimonio y comienza con las esposas estando sujetas a sus maridos.

¿Reduciríamos el número de divorcios si los esposos y las esposas siguieran las advertencias de los apóstoles? Tal vez era más fácil para la esposa del primer siglo someterse a su esposo, quien generalmente era el sostén del hogar, mientras que la esposa era la cuidadora del hogar. Sin embargo, la Biblia está llena de ejemplos de esposas que llevaron a sus esposos por mal camino. Eva desobedeció a Adán y a Dios cuando comió del árbol prohibido del conocimiento del bien y del mal. Jezabel de Acab lo indujo continuamente a hacer el mal. Herodías de Herodes idea un plan para terminar con la vida de Juan el Bautista en contra de la conciencia de su esposo. La esposa de David, Micaía, la hija de Saúl, despreció a David debido a su exhibición pública de danzas desenfrenadas ante el Señor, como resultado, ella fue estéril hasta su muerte. Marian, la hermana de Moisés, se levantó con su hermano mayor contra Moisés, y fue atacada por la lepra. Del lado del bien vemos a la esposa de Pilato que le advirtió que no condenara a Jesús, pero Pilato temía el poder de los líderes judíos y su influencia en Roma sobre el buen consejo de su esposa. Vemos a la reina Ester usando su influencia con el rey para el bien para salvar a su pueblo de la destrucción a manos de sus enemigos. Vemos a Rebeca de Isaac engañando a su esposo con su hijo Jacob para que Jacob recibiera la bendición. En los escritos judíos posteriores, dicen que Rebeca estaba siguiendo a Dios en su engaño. En la historia de Rut, vemos a una joven viuda, someterse a su suegra y casarse con un pariente lejano y rico y terminar en la genealogía de Jesús.

El tema de la sumisión de la esposa al esposo parece ser anticuado y pasado de moda en la cultura actual. ¿Debemos nosotros, como hijos de Dios, seguir la cultura o la Palabra de Dios? El autor de Hebreos responde: “Así que, hermanos, os ruego por las misericordias de Dios, que presentéis vuestros cuerpos en sacrificio vivo, santo, agradable a Dios, que es vuestro culto racional. No os conforméis a este siglo, sino transformaos por medio de la renovación de vuestro entendimiento, para que comprobéis cuál sea la buena voluntad de Dios, agradable y perfecta” (Romanos 12:1-2). El apóstol Pablo dijo claramente que los esposos y las esposas deben someterse el uno al otro (Efesios 5:21). Alguien en el matrimonio debe tomar la iniciativa y comenzar a caminar en amor, sea lo que sea que eso implique. Jesús dijo que Él no vino para ser servido, sino para ministrar. Dijo que Él no actuó como un Maestro, sino más bien como un siervo y nos exhortó a servirnos unos a otros. Dijo que el mayor entre nosotros sería el que estuviera sirviendo más. En nuestros matrimonios, ¿nos estamos sirviendo unos a otros? ¿Nos estamos complementando unos a otros? ¿Estamos entregando nuestras vidas el uno por el otro? “Los dos serán una sola carne”, ¿estamos actuando como una unidad, aunque tengamos ministerios y llamamientos diferentes? ¿Somos esposos que actuamos como Cristo? ¿O estamos exigiendo respeto y obediencia? Tal vez si actuáramos como Cristo y siguiéramos a Jesús de cerca, nuestras esposas naturalmente nos respetarían y se someterían a nosotros. ¿Les estamos haciendo las cosas difíciles al ser desobedientes a Dios? ¿Estamos ejerciendo autoridad sobre ellas en lugar de ser un ejemplo para ellas? No tengo la solución, pero creo que Jesús es la solución. Él es el camino, la verdad y la vida.

Si uno de los miembros del matrimonio sigue a Jesús de cerca y trata a su cónyuge como lo haría Jesús, creo que el matrimonio podría salvarse. Sin embargo, si ambas partes hacen la vista gorda y hacen oídos sordos a las advertencias de las Escrituras, será difícil encontrar una solución. No esperes que tu cónyuge sea el que siga a Dios. Debes hacerlo tú. Toma tu cruz y sigue a Dios y entrega tu vida en amor por tu cónyuge y Dios muy bien podría traer nueva vida a tu matrimonio donde parece que solo quedan oscuridad y muerte. Toma el camino de la humildad y la obediencia a Dios y confía en que Él bendecirá tus esfuerzos en sumisión al Rey de Reyes. Gana a tu esposa o esposo para Jesús con tu ejemplo de bondad y amor. “Por ahora permanecen la fe, la esperanza y el amor, estos tres; pero el mayor de ellos es el amor”, 1 Corintios 13:13.

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“Maridos, amai as vossas mulheres e não sejais amargos com elas”.

 Dennis Edwards

Quando estava ocupado a escrever o meu livro online, encontrado aqui, dormia com um caderno e um lápis ou caneta ao lado da cama. Muitas vezes acordava às primeiras horas da manhã, por volta das 6h00 ou mais cedo, com um capítulo inteiro, ou ideias completas para um capítulo, a passar-me pela cabeça. Nos Salmos lemos que Deus prepara os nossos pensamentos durante a noite, Salmos 16:7; e a Sua voz é a mão de um escritor hábil, Salmos 45:1c. Por outras palavras, enquanto dormimos, Deus guia ou prepara os nossos pensamentos para o dia seguinte. Ele está a trabalhar espiritualmente, talvez através dos nossos anjos da guarda, para plantar ideias ou pensamentos na nossa cabeça para nos ajudar a cumprir a missão que Ele tem para cada um de nós. Ele também está à espera que peguemos em papel e caneta e desejemos ouvir a Sua voz. Quando o fizermos, Ele falará connosco. À medida que começamos a escrever, descobrimos que somos movidos pela Sua orientação. Ele enche-nos pelo poder do Espírito Santo com as Suas maravilhosas palavras de vida e a nossa caneta torna-se a Sua língua.

Numa dessas experiências matinais, lembro-me de estar meio acordado e num estado de sonho, quando Deus falou ao meu coração, como se estivesse a ouvir uma voz audível: “Maridos, amai as vossas mulheres e não sejais amargos com elas”. Acordei e escrevi o versículo para não me esquecer da experiência ao final da manhã. Fiquei ali a meditar. Será que estava a deixar a amargura entrar no meu coração e a tornar-me amargo contra a minha esposa? A minha reação inicial foi: por que razão Deus me estava a dar este versículo? Não sou amargo com a minha mulher. Mas sabendo que a voz que ouvi de manhã era a voz de Deus, não a deixei de lado. Eu procurei o meu coração. Ao fazê-lo, descobri que de facto estava a ficar amargo com ela. Eu era culpado e Deus tinha razão. Ajudou-me a corrigir a minha atitude e a salvar o meu casamento. Se deixarmos crescer a amargura na nossa relação com as nossas esposas, ou em qualquer outra relação que tenhamos com outras pessoas, essa amargura destruirá a relação com essa pessoa. No entanto, não terminará aí. As raízes da amargura crescem, como crescem algumas raízes subterrâneas de uma árvore ou planta e brotam um novo crescimento. Da mesma forma, a amargura não permanece estagnada, mas propaga-se e afecta negativamente outras pessoas afectadas pela sua toxicidade.

Porque é que o apóstolo Paulo diz aos maridos para amarem as suas esposas e não serem amargos com elas? Será que o estado normal das coisas é os maridos ficarem amargurados com as esposas? Vamos ler o que Paulo escreveu para percebermos melhor.

“Revesti-vos, pois, como eleitos de Deus, santos e amados, de entranhas de misericórdia, bondade, humildade de espírito, mansidão, longanimidade; suportando-vos uns aos outros e perdoando-vos uns aos outros, se alguém tiver queixa contra alguém; E acima de todas estas coisas revesti-vos do amor, que é o vínculo da perfeição. E que a paz de Deus domine nos vossos corações, para a qual também fostes chamados num só corpo; e seja grato. Que a palavra de Cristo habite em si ricamente em toda a sabedoria; ensinando e admoestando-se uns aos outros com salmos, hinos e cânticos espirituais, cantando ao Senhor com graça nos seus corações. E tudo o que fizerdes por palavra ou ação, fazei-o em nome do Senhor Jesus, dando por Ele graças a Deus e ao Pai. Esposas, submetei-vos aos vossos próprios maridos, como convém ao Senhor. Maridos, amai as vossas esposas e não sejais amargos com elas. (…) Pais, não provoqueis a ira dos vossos filhos, para que não fiquem desanimados. Servos, obedecei em tudo aos vossos senhores segundo a carne; não com serviço visual, como para agradar aos homens; mas com sinceridade de coração, temendo a Deus e tudo o que fizerdes, fazei-o de todo o coração, como para o Senhor e não para os homens; sabendo que do Senhor recebereis a recompensa da herança; Colossenses 3:12-24.

A secção paralela encontra-se em Efésios 5:19-33.

“Falando consigo mesmos em salmos, hinos e cânticos espirituais, cantando e entoando melodias no seu coração ao Senhor; dando sempre graças a Deus e ao Pai em nome de nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo; submetendo-vos uns aos outros no temor do Senhor. Esposas, submetei-vos aos vossos próprios maridos, como ao Senhor. Pois o marido é o cabeça da mulher, tal como Cristo é o cabeça da igreja: e Ele é o Salvador do corpo. Portanto, assim como a igreja está sujeita a Cristo, assim também as esposas estejam em tudo sujeitas aos seus maridos. Maridos, amai as vossas mulheres, assim como Cristo também amou a igreja e se entregou por ela; para que Ele a santificasse e a purificasse com a lavagem da água pela palavra, para que A pudesse apresentar a Si mesmo como uma igreja gloriosa, sem mancha, nem ruga, ou qualquer coisa semelhante; mas que deveria ser santo e sem mácula. Assim, os homens deveriam amar as suas esposas como a seus próprios corpos. Aquele que ama a sua esposa ama-se a si mesmo. Pois nunca ninguém odiou a sua própria carne; mas nutre-a e cuida dela, tal como o Senhor faz com a igreja: pois somos membros do Seu corpo, da Sua carne e dos Seus ossos. Por esta causa, o homem deixará o seu pai e a sua mãe e unir-se-á à sua mulher, e serão os dois uma só carne. Este é um grande mistério: mas falo a respeito de Cristo e da igreja. No entanto, que cada um de vós em particular ame a sua mulher como a si mesmo; e a esposa cuide para que reverencie o seu marido.”

Por quatro vezes na passagem acima, o apóstolo Paulo admoesta o marido a amar a sua mulher. Por quatro vezes admoesta também a esposa a estar sujeita ao marido. Pode ser que a tendência do marido seja ficar amargurado com a mulher e deixar de a amar. Pode ser que a tendência da esposa seja perder o respeito pelo marido e deixar de se submeter a ele. Deus aborda estas duas tendências falando individualmente para ambas as partes.

O apóstolo Pedro aborda também o tema do casamento. Leremos a sua passagem em 1 Pedro 3:1-12.

“Da mesma forma, vós, esposas, sujeitai-vos aos vossos próprios maridos; para que, se alguns não obedecem à palavra, também possam ser ganhos sem a palavra pelo trato das esposas; enquanto contemplam a sua conversa casta juntamente com o medo. Cujo adorno não seja aquele adorno exterior de entrançar os cabelos, e de usar ouro, ou de vestir roupas; mas que seja o homem oculto do coração, naquilo que não é corruptível, sim, o ornamento de um espírito manso e quieto, que é de grande valor aos olhos de Deus. Pois desta maneira, nos tempos antigos, também as santas mulheres, que confiavam em Deus, se adornavam, estando sujeitas aos seus próprios maridos: assim como Sara obedeceu a Abraão, chamando-lhe senhor: de quem sois filhas, desde que o façais o bem , e não tem medo de qualquer espanto (ou súbita calamidade). Assim como vós, maridos, habitai com eles segundo o conhecimento, dando honra à esposa, como ao vaso mais fraco, e como sendo herdeiros juntos da graça da vida; que as suas orações não sejam impedidas. Finalmente, sejam todos unânimes, tendo compaixão uns dos outros, amem como irmãos, sejam misericordiosos (de bom coração), sejam corteses: não retribuindo mal por mal, ou injúria por injúria: mas, pelo contrário, abençoando; sabendo que foste chamado para isso, que deverias herdar uma bênção. Pois quem quiser amar a vida e ver os dias bons, refreie a sua língua do mal e os seus lábios não falem dolo; deixe-o procurar a paz e segui-la (ou persegui-la). Porque o sim do Senhor está sobre os justos, e os seus ouvidos estão abertos às suas orações;

Pouco antes de iniciar a passagem acima, o apóstolo Pedro estava a falar sobre a importância de o cristão estar disposto a submeter-se às ordenanças dos homens, ao rei e aos governadores. Disse aos servos que estivessem sujeitos aos seus senhores, mesmo aos mais avançados. Admoesta-nos, por causa da nossa consciência em relação a Deus, a estarmos dispostos a “suportar a tristeza, sofrendo injustamente”. Diz que a atitude cristã deve ser aquela que aceita pacientemente o sofrimento injusto, “porque também Cristo sofreu por nós, deixando-nos o exemplo, para que sigamos os seus passos: Quem não cometeu pecado, nem se achou engano na sua boca: Quem, quando Ele foi injuriado, não novamente injuriado; quando Ele sofreu, não ameaçou; mas entregou-se Àquele que julga com justiça”, 1 Pedro 2:21b-23. A partir daqui, inicia o seu discurso sobre o casamento e começa pelas esposas sujeitas aos seus maridos.

Reduziríamos o número de divórcios se os maridos e as mulheres seguissem as admoestações dos Apóstolos? Talvez fosse mais fácil para a esposa do século I submeter-se ao marido, que era geralmente o sustentador do lar, enquanto a esposa tratava da casa. No entanto, a Bíblia está repleta de exemplos de esposas que desencaminharam os maridos. Eva desobedeceu a Adão e a Deus quando comeu da árvore proibida do conhecimento do bem e do mal. Jezabel de Acab levou-o continuamente a fazer o mal. Herodias de Herodes elabora um plano para pôr fim à vida de João Batista contra a consciência do marido. A esposa de David, Mica, filha de Saul, desprezava David por causa da sua exibição pública de dança abandonada diante do Senhor e, como resultado, tornou-se estéril até à morte. Mariana, irmã de Moisés, levantou-se com o irmão mais velho, contra Moisés, e foi acometida de lepra.

Do lado do bem, vemos a esposa de Pilatos que o advertiu para não condenar Jesus, mas Pilatos temia o poder dos líderes judeus e a sua influência em Roma sobre o bom conselho da sua esposa. Vemos a Rainha Ester a usar a sua influência junto do Rei para o bem, para salvar o seu povo da destruição às mãos dos seus inimigos. Vemos Rebeca de Isaac a enganar o seu marido com o seu filho Jacob para que Jacob recebesse a bênção. Nos escritos judaicos posteriores, dizem que Rebeca estava a seguir Deus no seu engano. Na história de Rute, vemos uma jovem viúva, submeter-se à sogra e casar com um parente mais velho, rico e distante, e acabar na genealogia de Jesus.

O tema da submissão da esposa ao marido parece antiquado e ultrapassado na cultura atual. Devemos nós, como filhos de Deus, seguir a cultura ou a Palavra de Deus? O autor de Hebreus responde: “Rogo-vos, pois, irmãos, pela misericórdia de Deus, que apresenteis os vossos corpos em sacrifício vivo, santo e agradável a Deus, que é o vosso serviço racional. E não vos conformeis com este mundo, mas transformai-vos pela renovação da vossa mente, para que experimenteis qual seja a boa, agradável, e perfeita vontade de Deus”, Romanos 12:1-2. O Apóstolo Paulo disse claramente que os maridos e as esposas devem submeter-se um ao outro, Efésios 5:21. Alguém no casamento precisa de assumir a liderança e começar a caminhar no amor, seja lá o que isso implique. Jesus disse que Ele não veio para ser ministrado, mas para ministrar. Ele disse: Ele não agiu como um Mestre, mas sim como um servo e admoestou-nos a servirmo-nos uns aos outros. Disse que o maior entre nós seria aquele que mais servisse.

Nos nossos casamentos, estamos a servir-nos uns aos outros? Estamos a complementar-nos? Estamos a entregar as nossas vidas uns pelos outros? “Os dois serão uma só carne”, estaremos a agir como uma unidade, mesmo que tenhamos ministérios e chamados diferentes? Somos maridos, agindo como Cristo? Ou estamos a exigir respeito e obediência. Talvez se agíssemos como Cristo e seguíssemos Jesus de perto, as nossas esposas naturalmente nos respeitariam e se submeteriam a nós. Estamos a dificultar-lhes as coisas por sermos desobedientes a Deus? Estamos a dominar a nossa posição de autoridade sobre eles, em vez de sermos um exemplo para eles? Não tenho a solução, mas acredito que Jesus é a solução. Ele é o caminho a verdade e a vida.

Se um dos membros do casamento seguir Jesus de perto e tratar o seu cônjuge como Jesus trataria, acredito que o casamento poderá ser salvo. No entanto, se ambas as partes fecharem os olhos e os ouvidos às admoestações das Escrituras, será difícil encontrar uma solução. Não espere que o seu cônjuge siga Deus. Deve fazer isso. Tome a sua cruz e siga a Deus e dê a sua vida em amor ao seu cônjuge e Deus pode muito bem trazer uma nova vida ao seu casamento, onde parece que apenas a escuridão e a morte permanecem. Siga o caminho da humildade e da obediência a Deus e confie que Ele abençoará os seus esforços de submissão ao Rei dos Reis. Ganhe a sua esposa ou marido para Jesus através do seu exemplo gentil e amoroso. “Por enquanto permanecem a fé, a esperança e o amor, estes três; mas o maior deles é o amor”, 1 Coríntios 13:13.

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CS Lewis on Marriage

 
CS Lewis

The Christian idea of marriage is based on Christ's words that a man & wife are to be regarded as a single organism—for that is what the words ‘one flesh’ would be in modern English. And the Christians believe that when He said this He was not expressing a sentiment but stating a fact—just as one is stating a fact when one says that a lock & its key are one mechanism, or that a violin & a bow are one musical instrument. The inventor of the human machine was telling us that its 2 halves, the male & the female, were made to be combined together in pairs, not simply on the sexual level, but totally combined. The monstrosity of sexual intercourse outside marriage is that those who indulge in it are trying to isolate one kind of union (the sexual) from all the other kinds of union which were intended to go along with it & make up the total union. The Christian attitude does not mean that there is anything wrong about sexual pleasure, any more than about the pleasure of eating. It means that you must not isolate that pleasure & try to get it by itself, any more than you ought to try to get the pleasures of taste by just chewing things & then spitting them out without swallowing.

As a consequence, Christianity teaches that marriage is for life. There is, of course, a difference here between different churches: some do not admit divorce at all; some allow it reluctantly in very special cases. They all regard divorce as something like cutting up a living body, as a kind of surgical operation. Some of them think the operation so violent that it cannot be done at all; others admit it as a desperate remedy in extreme cases. They are all agreed that it is more like having both your legs cut off than it is like dissolving a business partnership. What they all disagree with is the modern view that it is a simple readjustment of partners, to be made whenever people feel they are no longer in love with one another.

We must not forget to consider faithfulness in relation to another virtue, namely justice. Justice includes the keeping of promises. Now, everyone who has been married by a church has made a public, solemn vow to stick to their partner till death. To this someone may reply that it was regarded as a mere formality. Whom, then, was he trying to deceive when he made it? God? That was really very unwise. Himself? That was not very much wiser. The spouse, or the in-laws? That was treacherous. Most often, I think, it was hoped to deceive the public. They wanted the respectability that is attached to marriage without intending to pay the price: that is, they were impostors & cheaters. If they are still contented cheats, there is nothing to say to them: who would urge the high & hard duty of faithfulness on people who have not even wished to be honest? If they have now come to their senses & want to be honest, their promise, already made, constrains them. If people do not believe in permanent marriage, it is perhaps better that they should live together unmarried than that they should make vows they do not keep. The idea that ‘being in love’ is the only reason for remaining married really leaves no room for marriage as a vow at all. If love is the whole thing, then the promise can add nothing; & if it adds nothing, then it should not be made. The curious thing is that lovers themselves, while they remain really in love, know this better than those who talk about love. Those who are in love have a natural inclination to bind themselves by promises. Love songs all over the world are full of vows of eternal constancy.

And, of course, the promise, made when I am in love & because I am in love, to be true to the beloved as long as I live, commits me to being true even if I cease to be in love. A promise must be about things that I can do, about actions: no-one can promise to go on feeling in a certain way. He might as well promise never to have a headache or always to feel hungry. But what, it may be asked, is the use of keeping 2 people together if they are no longer in love? There are several sound, social reasons. What we call ‘being in love’ is a glorious state, and, in several ways, good for us. It helps to make us generous & courageous, it opens our eyes not only to the beauty of the beloved but to all beauty, & it subordinates our merely animal sexuality; in that sense, love is the great conqueror of lust. No-one would deny that being in love is far better than either mere sensuality or cold self-centeredness. But the most dangerous thing you can do is to take any one impulse of our nature & set it up as the thing you ought to follow at all costs. Being in love is a good thing, but it is not the best thing. You cannot make it the basis of a whole life. It is a noble feeling, but it is still a feeling. No feeling can be relied on to last at its full intensity, or even to last at all. Knowledge can last, principles can last, habits can last; but feelings come & go. And in fact, whatever people say, the state called ‘being in love’ usually does not last. If the old fairy-tale ending “They lived happily ever after” is taken to mean “They felt for the next 50 years exactly as they felt the day they were married,” then that probably never was nor ever could be true, & would be highly undesirable if it were. Who could bear to live in that excitement for even a few years? What would become of your work, your appetite, your sleep, your friendships? But, of course, ceasing to be ‘in love’ need not mean ceasing to love. Love in this second sense—love as distinct from ‘being in love’—is not merely a feeling. It is a deep unity, maintained by the will & deliberately strengthened by habit; reinforced by (in Christian marriages) the grace which both partners ask & receive from God. They can have this love for each other even at those moments when they do not like each other.

If you disagree with me, of course, you will say, “He knows nothing about it.” You may quite possibly be right. But before you say that, make quite sure that you are judging me by what you really know from your own experience & from watching the lives of your friends, & not by ideas you have derived from novels & films. This is not so easy to do as people think. Our experience is colored through-&-through by books & TV & the cinema, & it takes patience & skill to disentangle the things we have really learned from life for ourselves.

People get from books the idea that if you have married the right person you may expect to go on ‘being in love’ forever. As a result, when they find they are not, they think this proves they have made a mistake & are entitled to a change—not realizing that, when they have changed, the glamour will presently go out of the new love just as it went out of the old one. In this part of life, as in every other, thrills come at the beginning & do not last.

There we have the Christian doctrine about the permanence of marriage. Something else, even more unpopular, remains to be dealt with. Christian wives promise to obey their husbands. In Christian marriage the man is said by God to be the ‘head.’ Two questions obviously arise here. (1) Why should there be a head at all—why not equality? (2) Why should it be the man?

(1) The need for some head follows from the idea that marriage is permanent. Of course, as long as the spouses are agreed, no question need arise; & we may hope that this will be the normal state of affairs most of the time. But when there is a real disagreement, what is to happen? Assuming they have talked it over & still failed to reach agreement, what do they do next? They cannot decide by a majority vote, for in a council of 2 there is no majority. One of 2 things can happen: either they must separate & go their own ways, or else one or other of them must have the deciding vote. If marriage is permanent, one or other party must, in the last resort, have the power of setting the family policy. You cannot have a permanent association without a constitution.

(2) If there must be a head, why the man? It is easily seen that a woman who wants to be the head of her own house does not usually admire the same state of things when she finds it going on next door. She is much more likely to say, “Poor Mr. X! Why he allows that woman to boss him about the way she does is beyond me.” I do not think she is even very flattered if anyone mentions the fact of her own ‘headship.’ There must be something unnatural about the rule of wives over husbands, because the wives themselves are half ashamed of it, & despise the husbands whom they rule.

The relations of the family to the outer world—what might be called its foreign policy—must depend, in the last resort, upon the man, because he usually is much more just to outsiders. A woman is primarily fighting for her own children against the rest of the world. Naturally, rightly, for her their claims override all others. She is the special trustee of their interests. The function of the husband is to see that this natural preference of hers is not given its head. He has the last word in order to protect other people from the intense family patriotism of the wife.

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Husbands: To Gain Respect From Our Wives We Must Go First!

 

Husbands, To Gain Respect From Our Wives We Must Go First (themarriagemeeting.com)

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Eight Ways to Show Your Wife Respect!

 Eight Ways to Show Your Wife Respect (daveandashleywillis.com)

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When Husbands Stop Loving and Wives Stop Respecting!

https://www.theministrydad.com/when-husbands-stop-loving-and-wives-stop-respecting/ 

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What Makes a Great Marriage... and Why It's Worth It — Dr. Bob Paul

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What’s the Meaning of Love?

 

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Marriage is a Vow

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Someone to Care!

 Dennis Edwards

Here are the verses I share in the talk about friendship.

Proverbs 18:24 "A man that has friends must show himself friendly: but there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother."

John 15:15 "Henceforth I call you not servants, for the servant knows not what his Lord does, but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of My Father I have made known to you."

James 2:24 "And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness: and he was called the friend of God."

Isaiah 41:8 "But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend."

2 Chronicles 20:7 "Art not thou our God, who did drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gave it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever?"

Proverbs 17:17a "A friend loves at all times."

You might want to watch this song called "I am a Friend of God." by a American Christian singer Israel Houghton. For those who need the lyrics to understand I uploaded the video with the words. You can find him on YouTube.

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Pope Francis Calls for Civil Union Laws for Same-Sex Couples

 

Free On-Line Catholic Conference:https://www.virtualcatholicconference.com/PWA2020#_s1a5qri4w  I am not promoting Catholicism, but a good virtual on-line conference on the reasons for our Christian faith could very well be a blessing to you, whether you are Catholic, Protestant, or Independent.

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7 Commandments of a Great Marriage

by Ron Edmondson





I have an advanced degree in counseling and hundreds of hours experience working with couples. I’ve taught marriage retreats for years. I wouldn’t say I’m an “expert” in marriage—because I’m married—and my wife reads my blog. That would be a stretch. Actually, I know more to do than I have the practice of doing. (Isn’t that true for most of us?)

But I’ve learned a few things. I’ve observed things that work and things that don’t.

I think there are some necessary ingredients for a healthy marriage. That’s the point of this post.

Want a healthier marriage?

Consider these 7 Commandments of Marriage:

Thou shalt serve one another. A good marriage practices mutual submission. Ephesians 5:21 commands us to submit to one another out of reverence to Christ. Marriage is not a 50/50 deal. It’s a 100/100 deal—each willing to surrender all to the other person.

How are you at serving your spouse? Would they say you strive to serve them more everyday? Are you more the giver or the taker in the relationship? Be honest.

Thou shalt love unconditionally. Unconditionally means without conditions. (See how deep this blog can be.) I’ll love you if… is not the command. It’s I’ll love you even if not. God commands us to love our enemies. How much more should this commitment be strong within a marriage?

Are you loving your spouse even with the flaws that you can see better than anyone else? Here’s a quick test: Does the way you communicate with your spouse indicate you have the highest regard for them—always?

Thou shalt respect one another. The Golden Rule covers this one. Everyone wants to be respected—so in any good marriage respect is granted to and by both parties. And, by the way, I believe respect too is to be unconditional.

In my experience, this one is sometimes easier for one spouse to give than the other, especially the one who works hardest in the marriage. Respect is mostly given because of actions. But respect is important for both spouses. Most people grant respect only when all conditions are met to be respected. That makes sense, but it doesn’t provide motivation to improve when the other party needs it most. All of us need someone who believes in us even when we don’t believe in ourselves. That’s the grace of respect. When most of us feel respected we will work harder to keep that respect.

Thou shalt put no other earthly relationships before this one. “Let not man put asunder” is not just a good King James Version wedding line. It’s God’s desire for a marriage. Great couples strive to allow no one—even children—even in-laws—to get in the way of building a healthy marriage.

Wow! Isn’t this a hard one? Yet I can’t tell you how many marriages I have seen ruined because the children came first or the in-laws interfered. I’ve seen marriages ruined by friends—sometimes co-workers—who had little regard for the integrity of the marriage, and so they built a wedge between the couple. As hard as it is sometimes, great couples work to protect the marriage from every outside interruption.

Thou shalt commit beyond feelings. The Bible talks a great deal about the renewal of our mind (Romans 12:2, for example). The mind is more reliable than emotions. You may not always feel as in love as you did the day you married. There will be tough seasons in any marriage. Strong marriages last because they have a commitment beyond their emotional response to each other. And when that’s true for both parties, feelings almost always reciprocate and grow over time.

As true and necessary as this is, great marriage partners continue to pursue each other—they date one another—fostering the romantic feelings that everyone craves in a relationship. Sobering question: When’s the last time you pursued your spouse?

Thou shalt consider the other person’s interest ahead of thine own. Again, we are commanded to to do this in all relationships. How much more should we in marriage?

Over the years, as couples get comfortable with one another, I’ve observed couples who become very selfish with their individual time. Sometimes, for example, one spouse pursues a hobby that excludes the other one, and more and more time is committed to that hobby. The other spouse begins to feel neglected. It may be allocation of time, in actions or the words used to communicate, but sometimes a spouse can make the other spouse feel they are no longer valuable to them. Are you considering how you are being perceived by your spouse?

Thou shalt complete one another. The Biblical command is one flesh (Ephesians 5). I’m not sure that’s anymore possible than the command that our individual flesh be molded into the image of Christ. It’s a command we obey in process. We are saints still under construction. We still sin. And that process isn’t completed here on earth in my opinion. So it is in a marriage. We never completely “get there,” but we set such a high standard for our marriage that we continue to press towards the goal.

There is no better place where “iron sharpens iron” than in a marriage. Cheryl makes me a better person. And, if I can be so bold—I think I do the same for her. There are qualities in her I need and qualities in me she needs to become one flesh. But that’s a process. That takes time, humility, and intentionality. I must allow her to make me better—and likewise for her. But when we do, we are both the benefactors. One question I always ask couples: Are you becoming closer as a couple—or are you drifting further apart? That’s a great question to ask frequently throughout the marriage.

These are obviously not the “10 Commandments.” They aren’t even necessarily God’s commandments—although I do believe they are based on the commands of God. The point is to take Biblical principles and apply them to our marriage.

And, what marriage wouldn’t benefit from that?

Would you pause and consider—are you breaking any of these commands?

Ron Edmondson pastors Immanuel Baptist Church. Find out more at: http://www.ronedmondson.com/about

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