Thursday, December 27, 2012

The Loving Marriage: Giving to Each Other



“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” 1 John 3:16-18. For all the many definitions we find of love, Jesus not only told us what love is, He demonstrated it by giving his life for us.

People marry because they are “in love,” but do they really understand what love is? No, they don’t know what love is, because they think it is a feeling, when, in reality, love is giving. It is giving up ourselves, giving to meet needs, giving through what we do, not necessarily by what we say. Love is not the esoteric, poetic love people write about, but a down-to-earth reality based giving of ourselves and our possessions to another person. The Bible calls us to love with actions and in truth.

Do you love your spouse this way? Giving without expectations? Dying to yourself and giving to him or her, not because you feel like it, but because it is what God wants you to do? Yes, you are not Jesus and you won’t do this perfectly, but if you don’t try, you won’t even come close! Jesus loved you by leaving heaven, living in this broken world and walking dusty, dirty roads for thirty some years and then dying on a cross for you! And you cannot give a little kindness, gentleness or patience for your spouse? The loving marriage is a giving marriage – giving up self and giving daily, even moment by moment to one’s spouse.