IronGuys Law Enforcement Ministries
"WORDS OF WISDOM"
By Police Chaplains
"Do You Bring Heaven or Hardship to Your Marriage?"
By
Doni Daudel
Chaplain, Beaumont (CA) Police Department
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.
Ephesians 5:22,25
In Ephesians 5:22,25, God, through Paul, gives us a simple yet clear definition of how a husband and wife are to treat each other. Husbands are to love their wives like Christ loved the church. Husbands are to die to selfish pride and instead, sacrificially live to bless, protect, provide and be willing to give their lives for their wives. Wives are to submit to their own husbands as to Christ. Wives are to die to selfish pride and come along side their husbands. Wives should not be argumentative, combative or challenging and should have a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. Simply put, a godly marriage always puts and keeps God and your spouse ahead of yourself.
In Philippians 2:3-4, Paul wrote: “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others..” Though Paul wrote these words to remind us how we should treat each other, it can be specifically applied to the covenant of marriage. Read those verses again. Are you being selfish and conceited in your marriage or do you “esteem” your spouse better than yourself? Are looking out for your spouses interests above your own or do you live in a narcissistic mindset of it’s always about you no matter what? A selfish heart in marriage in no way honors this sacred covenant from God.
The title of this message is, “Do you bring heaven or hardship to your marriage?” How would you answer that question? Better yet, which would your spouse say you bring to the marriage? If we are being truthful, there are times we bring both to our marriages, yet bringing “hardship” into the marriage should be extremely infrequent. Marriage is built on selfless investment. We should constantly be giving to our spouse. When we flip the switch from sacrificial service to prideful self-centeredness, hardship is on the horizon. Christ gave everything for us and tells us to do the same for each other in our marriages. When we make it all about us, we leave no room for our spouse or God. So, “Do you bring heaven or hardship to your marriage?” Take this question to prayer. You might be surprised at Gods answer.