Tuesday, October 9. 2007
Embittered Husband? - not if you're a Christian!!
Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
Col. 3:19
In this place, the apostle Paul gives very brief instructions to the husbands of the church. The meaning of Christ-like love is greatly amplified in his parallel letter for the Ephesians, but the brief comments Paul places here remain instructive. When Paul tells husbands to love their wives, and then says just one thing by way of application, his message is that the men must not become embittered.
The word for embitterment is pikraino. The verb is in the passive voice, which means that the husbands are told not to allow themselves to be embittered. The temptations to ignore these words come from the outside--from their wives. Because these men are told to love their wives, they must therefore have their defenses up.
Bitterness focuses on the sins of others, in this case, the sins of the wife. But a man may confess his wife's sins without ceasing, and his bitterness does not disappear, and his joy will not return. The more he thinks of the "situation" the more he is tempted to remain in his bitterness. This does not change even if all the "thinking" is done in the course of prayer. He is now just sinning on his knees.
Continue reading "Embittered Husband? - not if ... »
Col. 3:19
In this place, the apostle Paul gives very brief instructions to the husbands of the church. The meaning of Christ-like love is greatly amplified in his parallel letter for the Ephesians, but the brief comments Paul places here remain instructive. When Paul tells husbands to love their wives, and then says just one thing by way of application, his message is that the men must not become embittered.
The word for embitterment is pikraino. The verb is in the passive voice, which means that the husbands are told not to allow themselves to be embittered. The temptations to ignore these words come from the outside--from their wives. Because these men are told to love their wives, they must therefore have their defenses up.
Bitterness focuses on the sins of others, in this case, the sins of the wife. But a man may confess his wife's sins without ceasing, and his bitterness does not disappear, and his joy will not return. The more he thinks of the "situation" the more he is tempted to remain in his bitterness. This does not change even if all the "thinking" is done in the course of prayer. He is now just sinning on his knees.
Continue reading "Embittered Husband? - not if ... »
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