Why I Love My Wife
INTRODUCTION.
A. Sadly, many marriages fail. While we could list a number of reasons given, one of the reasons given the most is: “I just don’t love him or her.”
B. While love is not the only key to a successful marriage, it should be found at the beginning and at the ending of the list. Without love, marriages should never begin. Without love, a marriage will never succeed. (Note: Just because people have never gotten a divorce does not necessarily mean that their marriage was a success.)
C. All young couples contemplating marriage should consider long and hard about the love they claim to have for their future spouse. Then they need to realize that the love must be nurtured and given time to grow.
D. With this lesson, I want to talk to you about the love between a husband and a wife. I will do so by using my wife and me as an example.
E. With this lesson, I will tell you why I love my wife. I love my wife because . . .
I. GOD TELLS ME TO LOVE MY WIFE.
A. This may sound like a strange reason to love one’s wife, however, early in a marriage, a person may face difficulties that might challenge his immature love. Many people have quit their marriage because their love was immature. Loving your spouse because God tells you to love her will help to keep your love firm in those immature states.
B. Consider what God has told the husbands. (Ephesians 5:25-33)
1. I am to love my wife as Christ loved the church. (Ephesians 5:25-27)
a. Christ put the well being of the church above His own physical comfort.
b. Christ desired to make the church glorious, not having spot or wrinkle.
c. I am to put my wife’s physical well being, as well as her spiritual well being, first and foremost in my life. I should help my wife go to heaven, not hinder her from heaven.
2. I am to love my wife as I love my own body. (Ephesians 5:28)
a. If my wife is sick, I will take care of her.
b. If my wife is sad, then I will be sad with her.
c. If my wife is happy, then I will be happy with her.
3. I am to nourish and cherish my wife. She has been intrusted to my care. (Ephesians 5:29)
4. I am to dwell with my wife with understanding. (I Peter 3:7)
a. Understanding = gnosis {gno’-sis} - 1) knowledge signifies in general intelligence, understanding (Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon)
b. Understanding or knowledge of what? The knowledge of what God expects, the understanding of her desires, the comprehension of what it means to love my wife as I love my own body.
5. I am to give honor to my wife. (I Peter 3:7)
a. Giving honor = time {tee-may’} - 1) a valuing by which the price is fixed 2) honour which belongs or is shown to one (Ibid.)
b. My wife, my companion, my partner in life is due honor. I am the person to show my wife that honor, an honor designated by God.
6. I am not to make by wife bitter towards me. (Colossians 3:19)
a. Bitter = 1) to make bitter 2) to embitter. exasperate (Ibid.)
b. If I give my wife the love and honor that is due her, then she will grow bitter and exasperated towards me.
II. I LOVE MY WIFE BECAUSE SHE LOVES ME.
A. While this may sound selfish, it is intended to convey gratitude. That is, my wife was the one willing to love me and marry me. She was willing to be my companion throughout life. I was blessed by God to have been given such a wonderful wife. Not many, if any, would be willing to have the same love towards me that she possesses.
B. She loves me enough to willingly submit herself unto my headship.
1. Ephesians 5:22-24
2. Colossians 3:18
3. I Peter 3:1-6
C. She loves me. (Titus 2:4,5)
III. I LOVE MY WIFE BECAUSE SHE IS MY COMPANION.
A. While my wife is under my headship, she is still my helper or companion, just as Eve was Adam’s companion. (Genesis 2:18-25)
B. My wife helps me by guiding the home.
1. I Timothy 5:14
2. Titus 2:4,5
C. My wife helps me to faithfully serve the Lord. (I Peter 3:1-2)
IV. I LOVE MY WIFE BECAUSE I DESIRE TO LOVE HER.
A. I love my wife because I desire to love her. From the day we said, “I do,” my love for my wife has been by choice and has grown greater and greater as the years have gone by.
B. The Lord tells me that what lies in my heart will be manifested in the flesh.
1. “. . . For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.” (Matthew 12:34-35, NKJV)
2. “Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23, NKJV)
C. If I desire to love my wife, then I will love her, no matter what difficulties life may bring. However, if the desire is not there, then the absence of love will be quickly manifested.
CONCLUSION.
A. Marital troubles do not have to signal the end of a marriage. If both spouses are willing work towards a greater marriage, then they will succeed, assuming the effort begins with genuine love.
1. Love your spouse because God tells you to love him or her.
2. Love your spouse and give them a reason to love you.
3. Love your spouse because her or she is your companion, the one who has agreed to walk, hand in hand, down the road of life.
4. Love your spouse because you desire to love him or her. Without such desire, you love will never be genuine.
B. Is the love within your marriage as strong as it should be? If not, then isolate the problems or hindrances within your own life, and make the necessary changes today.
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Why I Love My Wife -- February 17, 2002 -- File # 2592
by John M. Duvall -- Lawton, OK