Love and Marriage

I Corinthians 7:1-7 Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry. But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. I say this as a concession, not as a command. I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.

Wow I think I just found one of my new favorite passages of scripture, just kidding. In our sex crazed society and world I am glad that Paul reminds us just as he did the sex crazed society of Corinth that sex is for marriage and marriage only. Sex is a gift from God that should be cherised and protected. Unfortunately in our culture like in Corinth sex was more of a commodity than a gift. Verse 3 challenges me to fulfill my marital duty to my wife. But what is that duty? First I believe that it means I need to be very aware of her needs and what I can do to meet those by asking her regularly how I am doing and then put action to my inquiry. Second for me it's not just having sex but learning to make love without ever getting to the bedroom, by dating my wife and helping her see that she is beautiful and noticed. Third by being what I need to be spiritually so that I can love her as Christ loved the church. Fulfilling my marital duty to my wife is a privelege and great responsibility, one that brings honor to her and honor to God.

Father help me to fulfill my marital duty to my wife not because its just something I should do but because I long to obey you and grow in my love for you. As I fall more in love with you help me to fall more in love with my wife.