The Mystery: Revealed

Colossians 3:18-19 “Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.”

Verse 18 is one of my favorite scriptures in the whole world and I use it regularly to get Darlene to do what I want. I don’t like verse 19 as much.

Actually, these verses confirm what Paul taught elsewhere and that is that the woman’s primary need is for love and the man’s primary need is for respect. Submit is another way of saying respect. The husband must love his wife as he loves himself and the wife must respect her husband. Could it be any clearer than that? Paul isn’t making suggestions; he is issuing commands from God Himself. In addition, the Greek word for love in this verse is agape, meaning unconditional love. The wording of Ephesians 5, where he talks about this same subject, strongly suggests the husband should receive unconditional respect. Christian spouses should not read this verse to say, “Husbands, love your wives unconditionally, and wives, respect your husbands only if they have earned and deserve it.” As the old saying goes, what is good for the goose is good for the gander.” I am not sure what a gander is, but when in Rome. Touché.

This topic is the subject of a very good Life Group called “Love and Respect.” If you have not yet attended this group and you are married or planning to be married, I would consider attending it. You can find more info by calling:

Love & Respect
This group will be using the “Love and Respect” video curriculum. Starts in October.
When: Wednesdays, 7-9 pm
Where: 178 Pelican Bay Drive, Santa Rosa Beach
Open to: Engaged or married couples
Contact: Brent & Judy Hoogewerf at 974-3308

Some people say, “We don’t need a marriage life group. Our marriage is good.”

Remember yesterday when I talked about the World Money Conference? When I attended, I didn’t see any poor people there, only well off people who wanted to be “weller offer.” You don’t wait until you’re in trouble to attend something like this. You attend something like this to make a well off marriage “weller offer.”