Love and Respect: a Biblically Blessed Marriage

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Love and Respect a Biblically Blessed Marriage

• Theme Fulfilling the husband/wife relationship
  in the most biblically possible way. Eph. 533

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Introduction

• Ephesians 533 Youve read it, heard it in
  sermons, and/or studied it personally or in Bible
  study settings.
• Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so
  love his own wife as himself, and let the wife
  see that she respects her husband. Ephesians 533

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Introduction

• Did you get it this time?
• We understand what it means for the husbands to
  love their wives.
• But, we (both men and women) have difficulty
  understanding what it means for wives to respect
  their husbands.

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Introduction

• The aim Wives to manifest respect for/toward
  husbands ultimately equates to love for wives
• and
• Husbands who manifest love for/toward their wives
  ultimately equates to respect for husbands.

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What is Going On Today?

• The problems seem all too frequent
• What was once funny, cute, or tolerable now seems
  to be annoyance or grating on your nerves.
• We fell in love and somehow fall out of love.
• Far too many see no hope for their marriage and
  contemplate or go through divorce.
• Others stay in their marriage but give up trying
  to make the marriage one that gives glory to God.

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What is Going On Today?

• The blame game We blame the other for their
  actions as justification for our behavior
  (response).
• What in the world is going on?
• Answer our selfish nature. Jas. 316 (Gen. 316)
• More specifically a lack of understanding our
  differences (thought, speech, listening,
  behaving).

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The Paramount Needs of a Man and Woman

• God specifically charges what each person
  typically lacks
• Such doesnt mean that other things arent
  beneficial or even needed.
• What it means is that the imperative given is
  most needed. cp. 1 Cor. 131-3
• Faith, spiritual gifts, sacrifice and benevolence
  were needed.
• Without (agape) love, the others would be
  profitless.

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The Paramount Needs of a Man and Woman

• Women above all need love.
• God biologically and physiologically wired
  women naturally nurturing and sensitive. Cp. 1
  Thess. 27
• Men typically lack such traits and thus
  (husbands) are given the charge to (agape) love
  their wives. Cp. Eph. 533 (Col. 319).
• He typically lacks sensitivity to her need to be
  loved and is exhorted to dwell with her with
  such understanding. 1 Pet. 37

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The Paramount Needs of a Man and Woman

• Men above all need respect.
• This is the way men are wired naturally made
  to protect and to lead. Cp. Gen. 215, 18 1 Tim.
  211-14 (cp. Gen. 316)
• Todays women typically have difficulty
  understanding a mans need for respect.
• Example greeting card market geared toward the
  womans psyche (love).
• We dont think anything about earning love
  (Matt. 544) yet readily express the need to
  earn respect. Cp. 1 Pet. 31-2

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Breaking the Communication Barrier

• Our wiring affects the way we think, speak,
  listen, and behave differently.
• Julie sometimes told me Mitch, I love you but I
  dont like you right now.
• Me huh? I didnt get it. I couldnt translate
  what she was saying.
• NOTE other women (wired like Julie) understood
  exactly how Julie felt
• P.S. Some women need to learn how to also like
  their husbands. Cp. Tit. 24

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Breaking the Communication Barrier

• When we begin to understand our basic needs and
  the ability to communicate them properly we are
  better equipped in meeting each others needs.
• The only thing left to break the communication
  barrier is our own selfishness. Cp. Gen. 316
  (for women) and 1 Pet. 37 (for men).

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Conclusion

• Do you want a better marriage one that fulfills
  your covenant with each other and to God?
• Men love your wives. Women respect your
  husbands.