A War of independence…
Eph 5:21 submitting to one another in the fear of God….
Sometimes to many, it appears that marriage can be a constant battlefield. Skirmish after skirmish, arising between husband and wife. Sadly, it is often the children who are the battlefield, the beachhead, the hill to be held, or to be taken.
But in all of this there is usually one common parasite that results in the opposite of a blessed marriage – that being selfishness, and its constant companion, a mindset ready to be independent from God.
Couples agree on many things and then there comes a point, a decision, and either the husband or the wife declares war by way of digging in their heels and taking a stand – driven by their own selfish beliefs and in opposition of what the Bible says on the matter in question.
The battle rages, the children become the “civilian casualties of war” and the marriage edges toward malfunction and disintegration.
Sadly, this is often the case now in Christian homes and Christian marriages.
Before the Bible speaks of a husband loving His wife as Christ loves the Church.
Before the Bible speaks of the wife submitting unto her husband as unto the Lord.
Before either of these actions are mentioned, the Bible declares the rules of engagement, the rules of the decision making process – “stop being selfish about getting your way” – and both submit one to another – IN THE FEAR OF GOD!
That is, neither the husband or the wife rule in the home or declare the parameters of how decisions are to be made – God does!
The key to a blessed marriage is for both the husband and wife to declare, to announce, that God rules in this family!
If both the husband and the wife declare that Christ is their Lord, then allowing Christ to rule the home, the marriage and the family will ensure that God’s blessing and His will, will always be on that family.
But if either the husband or the wife seek independence from God and His Word, then God no longer rules, poor decisions will be made, and the family will become a casualty of war. A war of independence!