Fundamentals For The Family - Damaging Your Marriage Part 2

Written By: Jim Swanson  |  Posted: Tuesday, April 13th, 2010

Marriages are damaged when the fundamental needs of the wife or husband are not met. Psychologists, theologians, and ordinary honest people agree what these are: a husband needs his wife to respect him, and a wife needs her husband to unconditionally love her. If this sounds like opinion, consider how Paul finished chapter five of Ephesians. "Nevertheless let every one of you (husbands) in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband." The nuances of love are given in 1 Corinthians 13 and exemplified in Christ's love for the church. Here are a few dictionary synonyms for the Greek word translated 'reverence.' "to be struck with fear, struck with amazement, to reverence, venerate, to treat with deference or reverential obedience."

Notice these roles are commanded. Therefore, the Lord enables us to fulfill them. This also implies that they are not natural. Our sin nature does not naturally obey God. It will take the grace of God to fulfill these consistently.

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