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Attitudes That
Sweeten Marriage
Is your marriage as happy as you want
it to be? Many marriages today are in trouble and the mates are unhappy.
One million divorces are granted in this country every year. Fifty-four
percent (54%) of married women admit they have committed
adultery, and the percentage of men who have committed adultery is
higher than the women! This unfaithfulness to the marriage bed shows
that many marriages are not what God intended them to be. God never
intended that marriage be an unhappy state, but for it to be one of the
happiest relationships that man would have on this earth (Prov.
5:18-19). When a marriage is in trouble and the companions are unhappy,
someone is breaking the laws of God.
The Husband/Wife Relationship
God created the man and said it was not good for him to
be alone, so made an help meet for him - woman (Gen. 2:18; 2:21-22; 1
Cor. 11:9). God then instituted the marriage relationship (Gen.
2:24). The institution of marriage is a divine, monogamous, and
life-long relationship of oneness (Matt. 19:4-6; Rom. 7:3-4). God
said by the prophet Malachi that "He hateth putting away" (Mal.
2:16). Jesus said that there is only one reason for "putting
away" and marrying again, and that reason is fornication (Matt.
19:9). Only the innocent party has the right.
God ordained that the man should rule over his wife (Gen. 3:16),
not unjustly as a slave, but he is to rule her with love (Eph. 5:25,
28-29). This is to be a self-giving concern for her person - a love
that seeks her happiness and well-being at the sacrifice of his own
interest and welfare (I Cor. 13:5). The wife is to reverence and
submit to her husband (Eph. 5:24, 33; 1 Pet. 3: 1) and to love
him (Tit. 2:4).
In the marriage relationship the husband and wife become exclusively the
possession of each other (I Cor. 7:2-5). Marriage fulfills one of
the greatest needs of mankind -to love and to be loved. This
relationship brings into the life of each mate fulfillment,
satisfaction, and contentment. A fruitful marriage is built upon love,
respect, faithfulness, and mutual consideration.
Let us now look at some attitudes that build each other up instead of
tearing each other down - some attitudes that will sweeten marriage:
Express Appreciation To Your Companion
Express appreciation for things that are done - whether
they be big or small. At all times look for the good qualities in your
mate and express appreciation for them. Don't just look for the
negative, if you do all of life will begin to appear totally negative!
If you are to stay in touch with the reality of the good in your
companion, you must look for good and express appreciation for it.
Give Honor And Respect To Your Companion
Peter said to the husbands, "Likewise, ye husbands,
dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife as
unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of
life; that your prayers be not hindered" (1 Pet. 3:7). Paul said to
the wives, "And the wife see that she reverence her husband" (Eph.
5:33). Respect breeds respect, so if a wife wants respect she must
show respect. Disrespect inflames bad feelings. Treat your mate with
respect and dignity and your mate will want to rise to the same high
level.
Be Forgiving
An unforgiving attitude inflames tension and strife.
Never have the habit of dredging up the past mistakes to put down your
companion. That is being unmerciful and unforgiving, and it reopens old
wounds. Everyone wants mercy and forgiveness for his (or her)
shortcomings. Many times people forgive everybody but their mates, but
the first place forgiveness should be practiced is at home with one's
mate (Luke 6:36-38; Matt. 6:14-15; Col. 3:13; Eph. 4:33). You and
your mate are imperfect human beings (1 John 1:8), so when you
are wrong why not simply say, "I am wrong and I'm sorry"? Only an
immature and prideful person refuses to admit his shortcomings and sins.
Be Helpful and Constructive
Companions should be able to talk honestly with each other, and to treat
each other as best friends (and they should be best friends). You want
your feelings, needs, and opinions to be heard and considered - so does
your companion.
What does it mean to be a friend? Friendship is a privilege - not a
situation to be taken advantage of. When a person takes advantage of
another there is no friendship - so, no loving companion will take
advantage of his mate; Friends love each other dearly - so do mates who
are trying to do God's will; A friend offers his best to a friend -
husbands and wives who are what they ought to be offer their best to
each other; A friend will go when needed; so will a true and faithful
companion; A friend is a holder of confidences - if there is one person
on earth one should be able to trust, it is his mate; A friend will have
empathy for another - if there were ever two people who should feel each
pain of the other it should be companions; A friend will do all he can
for another - loving mates cannot do enough for each other.
Marriage Partners Are A Team
A healthy, loving husband/wife relationship is not a
master/slave relationship. It is a sharing, complimenting relationship
where each mate recognizes the God-ordained role of each. When each mate
realizes they need help and that they do compliment each other, they
draw closer and grow to respect and love each other more.
God's Laws of Marriage Must Be Respected
Break any of God's laws, and they will break and destroy
you! Millions are paying painful, mental, emotional, and physical
penalties for rejecting and transgressing God's laws on sex and marriage
- and most of these will pay eternally with their souls lost in hell!
God's law is plain - "Thou shalt not commit adultery" (Rom. 13:9)-and
the penalty for breaking this law is always enforced! Let us look at the
penalty:
1. Remorse (Prov. 5: 11; Psa. 51:3).
2. Disease of the body (Prov. 5: 11; Rom. 1: 27).
3. Dishonor (Prov. 6:33).
4. Impoverishment (Prov. 5:10).
5. Spiritual death (Prov. 6:32; Rom. 6:23).
6. The only grounds for divorce (Matt. 19:9).
7. The Lord will avenge (I Thess. 4:6).
If we who are married will only practice the things we have stated in
this article, it will bring sweetness to the marriage relationship.
--Donald Townsley of Florence,
Alabama
Guardian of Truth XXVII: 18, pp. 547-548
September 15, 1983
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