The Attack on Marriage

 

Have you heard it?

Women complain about what their husbands do not do. Men complain that the wives fail to meet their standards. Some have accepted the cultural bashing of men as stupid and women as wet blankets. Marry one and your fun in life is over.

Can we please stop?

The Bible is pretty clear on the subject of marriage. God holds it in high esteem. He expects men and women to leave their families of origin and cleave to the one they marry. He says they should then become one flesh. That is not just physical kind of one flesh. That is loving yourself, being on each other’s team, and supporting one another kind of one flesh.

The stakes are high for a married man.  “Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.” (1 Peter 3:7) Hindered prayers, what a terrible consequence!

Two Way Expectations

But, the expectations come to both partners in the marriage: Hebrews 13:4 says, “Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.”  Ephesians  5:33 says, “However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.”

Marriage is under attack in our culture. Sadly, there are attacks on it inside and outside of the church. Inside should not be.

A man who does not honor marriage, not just his own, but all marriages, is going to face the judgment of God. He is also going to tear down his wife’s joy and satisfaction in him and in life.

Any woman who wants to belittle her husband (or generally malign any male) is setting herself and her children up for multiple disappointments in the family and in marriage for the children.

The Proverbs 31 wife was a strong, capable woman who brought honor to her husband in the community because of her respect for Him and love for God. God has clearly called men to love their wives as Christ loved the church. If we are tearing down rather than building up our spouses we are contributing to our own misery, not just theirs. The Bible is clear that encouraging words and kindness will have a positive effect on others. Why would that be any different with our spouses?

Safe Haven

The home should be a refuge and a safe haven. Many today dread going home for fear of the words that will come down on them their about marriage, or more personally insulting and painful words.

Some couples are too proud to seek help. Revealing what is in the dark will be considerably less painful in the long run. Otherwise we remain in the hopeless solution of ridiculing our God-given mate for life.

Is there is a problem in your marriage? Will you please address it directly rather than using insults to punish.