Love in Marriage
What is Love? Why should love be emphasized in marriage?
And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. – Ephesians 5:2 ESV
1 Corinthians 13 is called the “love chapter.” As you read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 below, ask yourself if you display these “God” characteristics toward your spouse.
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. – 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 ESV
The Bible says that love covers. It does not expose.
Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. – 1 Peter 4:8 ESV
Don’t expose your spouse’s sins or shortcomings.
Yes. That’s right. Our expectations could be completely wrong or unrealistic.
Even if your spouse is not present, your attitude will line up with your words especially if your audience agrees with you.
More Verses About Love.
Genuine Love
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. – Romans 12:9 ESV
We have the choice of letting our love be genuine. Don’t fake it until you make it. Practice the action of love as we read in 1 Corinthians 13. You don’t have to pretend to have feelings that you don’t have. But choose to be intentionally patient. Decide to be kind etc.
Your Closest Neighbor
Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. – Romans 13:10 ESV
Your spouse is your closest neighbor.
Build Your Spouse Up
…love builds up. – 1 Corinthians 8:1 ESV
Study Your Spouse
Pursue love. – 1 Corinthians 14:1 ESV
Do Everything in Love
Let all that you do be done in love. – 1 Corinthians 16:14 ESV
Serve in Love
…Through love serve one another. – Galatians 5:13 ESV
Love and Submission
Husbands are specifically commanded to love their wives.
Yes! Part of the curse from the fall was that wives would desire to rule over their husbands. God told Eve, “But he shall rule over you (Genesis 3:16 ESV.)”
But God was explaining the consequences of sin. This was not and is not His will. Right?
In the beginning, God created man in His image. Male and female, He created them (Genesis 1:27). And He blessed them and gave them dominion (Genesis 5:1-2, 1:26-28). Jesus came and restored that equality (Galatians 3:28, Mark 10:6, 11-12). There is still a temptation for men and women to rule over their partners.
Paul reminds husbands to love not dominate.
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; … So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. … Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself… – Ephesians 5:25, 28, 33 KJV
We will talk about this even more when we cover submission!
Finally, let’s Remember: The Greatest is Love
So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. – 1 Corinthians 13:13 ESV
Let’s pray
Father,
Your greatest commandments are to love You and love others. I pray that You will bless our marriages and may our love for each other continue to grow. I pray that we may love as You love! Amen.