BY DR. EZRA OMOLO
Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
In our society in Kenya today, expression of love by a husband to the wife is considered a sign of weakness. Many husbands settle for a business arrangement with the wife, where every “officer” has to take charge of their responsibility without pleasure.
In the western culture saying words such as I LOVE YOU is commonplace, but even this has made love to be very superficial, a misunderstanding of love. No wonder the use of phrases like MAKING LOVE which seem to imply that sex manufactures love.
What does the bible mean, when it appeals to husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church?
1. Love as you love your own body. This is another way of saying, do unto them only that which is good. Ephesians 5:28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
2. Love more than you love your parents and siblings. Genesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. She should be your first priority, only second to Jesus
Love is easier said than done. Most of the times it is even very difficult for husbands to have love said. Yet it is important to say it. The words I LOVE YOU can never be cliche as long as you mean what you say.
The bible is full of promises of God’s love to us including the all famous John 3:16. The book of Song of Songs is saturated with romantic expressions teaching us of a God who believes in expressing love generously.
Since God is love, only having Jesus in our lives can produce the most reliable and lasting love in husbands for their wives. We continue to learn what it means to love as Jesus loved.
3. Love unto the end. Love always seems to grow cold after the marriage ceremony then couples settle for a business arrangement marriage, where there are no lovebirds, only business partners in this institution called marriage. John 13:1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, HAVING LOVED HIS OWN WHICH WERE IN THE WORLD, HE LOVED THEM UNTO THE END.
Note that Jesus loved them because they were his own. The fact that they were in the world meant that they were not perfect, yet he loved them unto the end. Jesus love stood the test of time and experience. No wonder the disciples became very zealous to do His will and spread the gospel to the whole world.
Do you find that your spouse has too many weaknesses? Love patiently to the end in her imperfection. Is your love growing cold? Speak words of affection and love daily. Ask Jesus to teach you to love as He loves.
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