1ST LESSON EPHESIANS 5:25
"Husbands love your wives even as Christ also loved the
Church, and gave himself for it."
2ND LESSON COLOSSIANS 3:18
"Wives, submit yourselves unto you own husband as it is fit
in the Lord."
GOLDEN TEXT: 1ST PETER 3:8
MARRIAGE is a holy institution headed by Christ. It entails a lot
of sacrifice in love on the part of the couples. The husband should love his
wife as Christ loves his church. And what Christ is to his Church so must a
husband be to his wife, a Pastor and a Comforter.
Love is the Bridegroom's commandment. It is not the deed of man,
but of God that, a man should love his wife. Christ as the shepherd of the
church, loves and protects her. He takes care to ensure that no sheep goes
astray. The husband has the same duty towards his wife.
To marry is not a difficult question. But can you be the keeper
and lover of your wife? This means laying down your life for your wife. If the
marriage home is not in peace, the husband is answerable. He is not a good
Pastor.
If the wife goes astray, and is perished, God will demand her soul
from her husband.
God does not know the woman, but he places everything under the
care of the man. And God uses the responsibility of caring for the wife to test
the man to see whether he will love his wife as Christ loves him (the husband).
If a husband wants to apply God's example of love to wedlock, they
should first of all ask themselves whether they have received his instructions.
Christ is telling all husbands to take good care of their wives and children,
and to keep them as a good Pastor does to his flock guiding his life that the
sheep may live. He has warned us, that if a man does not love his wife, his
prayers will not be heard by God.
But, how many husbands today are ready to learn of Christ? For our
sake, Christ suffered to the end; so that for our wives, we may likewise suffer
as good Shepherds.
What day has Christ scourged you? What day has he cursed or
pronounced woe unto you? What day has he refused to give you food? Or said unto
you: "From today, I don't want you again, go away to your mother."
What day has Christ told you: "This house is mine, I do not want
you." Has he ever told you not to touch anything because you have brought
nothing into this world? No never Christ is Bridegroom without blemish.
But contrary to Christ's expectations and instructions, husbands
today are selfish and cause division in the home. They maintain strictly
exclusive ownership over this or that thing in the house, whereas, husband and
wife should have the same right over everything in the house.
They should share the same trunk box, spoon, plate and cup. There
should be no harm in the husband using the wife's wrappers, and vice-versa—they
should have everything in common.
Yet, instead of heeding Christ's instructions, some husbands treat
their yes spitefully, disgracing them whenever and wherever they like. They
boast that, they can marry as many women as they like, and in their
foolishness, forget that any Pastor who cannot take care of a single sheep,
cannot in anyway be safely trusted with two; let alone more.
The Consequences
Look around the world today and see how men suffer the
consequences of the ill-treatment they give their wives. Though their
negligence, they wreck the marriage home. Tribulations, litigation, fear,
illness and wrath are among the things any husband, who does not love his wife,
is most liable to suffer.
Danger of Polygamy
Since it is so difficult to successfully be the husband of one
wife, polygamy is a real danger we should dread. The man who ill-treats his
wife with the hope that he can marry another tomorrow, should note the danger
to which he has exposed himself.
This gospel has peace to offer to those who do it, and war to wage
against all those who do not do it.
1ST LESSON EPHESIANS 5:25
"Husbands love your wives even as Christ also loved the
Church, and gave himself for it."
Some people claim that they are behaving as Europeans, first, by
living a happy married life. This is not true. The only fact is that, Europeans
first embraced Christianity and have successfully applied the principle of love
in marriage life. So the man who behaves well in marriage life, is not doing as
Europeans, but is doing the word of God as Christ is doing in showing perfect
love towards his Church.
Precious
Of all things in the world, what is most precious to a man is his
wife. She is lifetime cross that the man has to carry till death separates
them. All truth, humility, longsuffering and patience should be employed in the
love for his wife. She is the only person with whom you are one flesh in this
world. Something you do to your wife is something you do to yourself.
Not Money
Money does not show love in marriage. First ask yourself whether
you will be able to carry your wife's cross during sickness, tribulation want
and misfortune. You are her father in tribulation. You are also her mother. You
are her brother, sister, and husband. You are her all in all. You cannot think
of her clothes, health and food without thinking of how you can supply them.
Disappointment
But disappointment comes when the man who is supposed to be
provident in love, comfort and Godliness chooses to deprive his wife of all
these rights, simply because he prefers wine, hotel and outside women to his
wife.
He leaves his wife too worried to be comfortable. The bad husband
causes his wife to wander and go lost like a sheep without a Shepherd.
Punishment
And what punishment awaits such husbands. Their punishment should
be heavy, for there is no reason why the love of a husband should be turned
from his wife to cinema, bar and outside women. If we care to examine, why
should we do things while our wives are refused scratchy crumbs? Why should we
give them stone for bread?
Why then should our wives knock and we refuse to open and admit
them into out bowels of love. Why should we be stone-hearted against the weaker
vessel of the Lord.
Why should we desert them in their Poverty. Why should we be bad
Shepherds and anti-Christs.
Christ Surrendered His Wealth
Christ saw how poor we were and so, came and surrendered all his
property and heavenly glory, and suffered that we might be filled.
He saw how weak we were and so, surrendered all his strength also
that we might be strengthened. But if we fail to follow this example in loving
our wives, our punishment is indeed great. We are created in the image of God
and Christ. If we do not love our wives, we are no more in the image of Christ,
and God is no more in us.
Wife Finds God In Her Husband
All the above mentioned Godly qualities, which Christ shows
towards us and His Church, are expected to be seen by the wife in her husband.
She finds God in her husband. But supposing the husband does not care to seek,
find and abide in God and his Christ, how can the wife see God in him?
How can marriage be successful without the head—Christ? Any husband
who hasn't had Christ, is useless; and a house where the man is useless is good
for nothing.
Ruined
Before now, you were saying: "someone has spoiled my
house." But now, you have seen that by telling lies to your wife, causing
division in anything with her, and by not loving her as you should, you are the
sole cause of unhappiness in your home. Accept Christ as the head of your
house, otherwise you are ruined already.
Judgment
If you do not love your wife, you cannot do the work of God and
God cannot give you God fearing children.
You cannot have any good thing in life. Because you cast your wife
out, you have cast out Christ and all good things. If you desert her, and sleep
in some corner in the town you have deserted Christ.
You have exposed her to the danger of death. You have crucified
Christ a second time. You are a murderer. Cain was asked by God: "Man,
where is thy Brother?" On the judgement day the husband will be asked:
"Man, where is thy wife?" How will you be saved if you are a bad
husband.
You Need Christ
To be a good husband or good Shepherd, you need no money, drink or
medicine as you need Christ. You should use Christ's instructions to keep your
family away from sin, or else, their sins will be counted against you.
Christ is calling upon all husbands to come and learn of Him, how
to care for the flock and lay down their lives for them; how to love them and
have peace and life eternal. Christ is calling all men. To start rolling on
Jesus' feet and receiving instructions from him is to start being good enough
husband.
The husband's love for his wife must be reciprocated. Therefore,
not only the husband needs Christ, the wife also should be a good Christian.
She should take Christ's instructions.
2ND LESSON COLOSSIANS 3:18
"Wives, submit yourselves unto you own husband as it is fit
in the Lord."
Dear Brethren, have you seen another problem wives? And you wives
who have quarreled with your husbands before coming to Church today, had you
not told him when you parted in discord, that you had better parted with the
foolish man; but you will never part with your God? And are you sure that you
have not parted with you God already?
Does a wife who does not submit to her husband remain with God any
longer? It does not matter whether you are a millionaire while your husband is
a pauper, you must submit to him. And of course, through you your husband
should rise and be the same millionaire that you are. He should be what you are
and more. He should always be your husband, and you his wife submitting to him
in all respects.
No Secret
Why then should a woman take her money to a nearby relation to
keep for her. Why should that distant brother be the keeper of her box, while
her husband is ignorant of the whole affair? Who authorises the woman to claim
that she bought this pot or that knife for her husband or that she brought
these things from her parent's house.
Infact, the wife has nothing of her own. All she has belongs to
the husband also. From the day your husband takes you away from your parents,
with all your knowledge, beauty from head to toe, with all your vices and
virtue, you belong to him all in all.
It becomes your bounding duty to take his instructions. If you
cling to your old habits without allowing them to be modified or eradicated by
him you are exposed to danger.
Any woman who considers it difficult to regard her husband as her
own father had better stayed back a spinster for, she cannot be a house wife.
But today, who among black and white women will not throw back five for one
word of rebuke from the husband?
How many women abide by the advice of their husbands? How many
regard their husbands as their Lords. Apart from Christ the wife has no other
King than her husband. The parents are not as important to the woman as her
husband.
Respect
Any woman whether black or white who respects her husband respects
Christ; and any woman who submits to her husband submits to Christ. Why then,
should women who are married wear their marriage rings to go and mess up with
other men? I wonder why such women should be called human beings any longer.
All your body belongs to your husband exclusively.
Even you have no right to converse with another man on the road
without the permission of your husband. You have no power of your own. You have
no right to wear anything you like, or to appear any how or in any fashion your
husband does not approve of.
Husband's Permission
You are not permitted to plan or think differently from your
husband. It is a sin for you to give anybody a penny without the permission of
your husband.
You are not permitted to argue with him. As the heaven is high
above the earth, so is the man's wisdom above that of the woman.
Some women assume too much for the fact that some of them are
Queens or Ministers or Prime Ministers. All these are meant to be controlled by
men, their position not withstanding. Education has nothing to do in marriage.
Money does not give a woman a mandate to be above her husband. Nothing does.
There are some women who think that once they have used their
beauty to entrap a man into marriage, they are free afterwards to behave as
they like, hoping to use their beauty as an irresistible influence. But I tell
you such women had better gone to hell with their beauty.
It were better that they are called "beauty-dung,"
submitting it under the husband's feet for the sake of happy marriage than to
face the consequences of the misuse of their beauty in marriage. For they are
bound to suffer in the end.
There is another set of women who want to live a free life, and
hope to succeed more by having men they simply call "husband." They
therefore use their money to engage poor, simple men whom they hope to control
with the influence of money favour. This is a grievous sin for any woman to
commit. It does not show the wife's submission to the husband and is not
conducive to love and happy marriage.
Divorce
There are others who think that they can desert their husbands at
any time they like, and take up new husbands. Some divorce their husbands and
go to stay where they call "convenient homes." And you foolish woman
where do you want to go. Where your husband stays is your town and your home.
It is your heaven. From the day your parents surrendered you to a
man in marriage, your parents and relations have no right over you; but your
husband has every right over you.
Give Him Food
Women should know that God uses their husbands to test whether
they can serve Him: give him food and cloth; because something done by the
husband to the wife is something done to Christ. You should be like a loving
child to your husband.
A Woman's Business Is Husband's
Nothing else should concern wife than her husband. A woman has no
other business than her husband. To be a judge is nothing to her. To be a queen
is nothing to her. The glory of a woman is her husband. He is her sole
business.
If your husband is not asleep, you should not sleep. It is your
duty to watch with him. When necessary you should watch over him. When your
husband is ill, you are ill with him. His health is your health. And as the
Church submits unto Christ, so all women are supposed to submit to their
husbands. Any woman who refuses to do this has direct punishment from God.
GOLDEN TEXT: 1ST PETER 3:8
"Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of
another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous."
The love we have for our wives should be full of humility and
sympathy and peace. These qualities should mark our conversations and actions
towards them. Your joy and sorrows should be shared in the Spirit of love and
oneness.
Your parents in-law are your parents also. A husband should not do
anything without seeking the mutual consent of his wife. Christ cannot dwell
where there is a division. But where both couples are united and surrender
themselves to the will of God, Christ is their bridegroom and is ready to
provide their temporal and Spiritual needs. And they are merely brother and
sister. That is why we say that in the strict sense of the word no man should
be called a husband. Christ alone is a husband, while husband and wife are Brother
and Sister.
Happy Home
Therefore there must be Christ in every happy home. There must be
singleness of mind, compassion, love and pity between husband and wife. Any
person who cannot take care of his house cannot take care of the house of God.
Whoever prays for a successful marriage life, happy home, children of promise,
should take this gospel as the only condition.
Those who have ears to hear let them hear, may the Lord bless the
preaching of his holy word. Amen.
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