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NASB | Ephesians 5:33 Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Ephesians 5:33 However, each man among you [without exception] is to love his wife as his very own self [with behavior worthy of respect and esteem, always seeking the best for her with an attitude of lovingkindness], and the wife [must see to it] that she respects and delights in her husband [that she notices him and prefers him and treats him with loving concern, treasuring him, honoring him, and holding him dear]. [1 Pet 3:2] |
Subject: Either / or? |
Bible Note: Well, there's the rub. It's difficult to come up with a specific and real example of this idea I'm trying to explain when I'm not absolutely sure I understand it completely. I don't know if I've ever seen the thing I'm talking about so I can only get as "real" as a hypothetical scenario. But I'll try to at least make it specific. Let's say, for example, that a husband has interests that are *natural* or *human* or *temporal* and that there is nothing inherently sinful about any of these interests. Some of these interests could be hobbies, sports, political activity, volunteer work, or any number of other things a husband could be interested in for more selfish or less selfish reasons, but not central to the marriage relationship. To make it as "real" as I know how to, let's say volunteer work for a Christian charity and fishing are two serious interests this husband has. There is nothing inherently wrong or sinful about either of these things, but his wife has had a rotten week, has been falsely accused of something at work, feels really guilty because she didn't get in trouble at work for something she really did wrong, and snapped at the kids for arguing for a second about some small thing because she has horrible cramps, and she didn't pay the bills like she said she would, so she's all twisted up inside and feeling like a failure and like everything's completely out of control and really just wants a warm hug and a nice, long cuddle and some hot tea. Isn't it a relatively small sacrifice for the husband to lay aside the volunteer work tonight and the fishing tomorrow and sacrifice that time in an investment in his wife. Even if he doesn't give her the hug, cuddle, and tea, just the way she wishes, doesn't Christ's pattern teach a husband to lay down his life for her in her need? Maybe he has something for her that's much more important than hugs, cuddles and tea. He is God's provision for her in the marriage relationship in a way that I'm trying to get a handle on, but isn't it at least about this kind of sacrifice? |