Follow After Charity

“Follow after charity…” –I Corinthians 14:1

A wife once exclaimed, “Me and my husband have fussed for 50 years. I’m praying that God will take one of us to Heaven. And when God answers my prayer, I’m going to move in with my sister!’

There is no such thing as a perfect marriage, but God’s Word does command husbands and wives to love one another – in spite of our faults! One word for “love” that God uses is “agape” – a deep, abiding loyal devoted/committed love. Another word He uses is “phileo” – a fondness for; affectionate love; to give attention to. God’s Word is clear on this subject of love within the bond of marriage:

A husband is to love his wife. A woman was designed by God to want security and communication. “Husbands, love (agape) your wives, even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it;” (Ephesians 5:25)

A wife is to love her husband. Men were designed by God to want attention, respect and praise. “That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love (phileo) their husbands, to love their children” (Titus 2:4)

A husband and a wife are to love each other. A husband and wife are designed by God with certain desires or needs, and every God-given desire/need has a God-given way of being expressed/met. A married couple should also have a benevolent love (to show kindness; be well-minded toward; meeting the needs of; intimate love) for one another. “Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence; and likewise also the wife unto the husband.” (1 Corinthians 7:3)

-Tim Cruse

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