Challenge #58

Being married is really an opportunity to cultivate a relationship like no other on Earth. Who else can you love that is just like loving yourself? When Ephesians 5 says that husbands ought "to love their wives as their own bodies" and  "he that loveth his wife loveth himself" it is not kidding. These are true statements. Loving your spouse is loving yourself. When you nourish and cherish your wife as this piece of scripture commands, you are really nourishing and cherishing yourself through the marriage relationship - and this goes for wives too!

Countless times I have heard people ask the question about relationships and imply that relationships should be "50/50." That is not what the Bible teaches at all. The marriage relationship is to be 100/100. You give 100%, your spouse gives 100%. If both parties are giving their best effort, nothing is lacking - everything is in abundance. (Doesn't that sound great? Everything in abundance. Love in abundance!) If you're more concerned about where to draw the line at 50%, you're not giving your best. YOU ARE NOT GIVING YOUR BEST! There is no 50/50 in a marriage! In this type of marriage, someone will always be unhappy. Someone will always feel like they are "doing more" of the work. This doesn't happen when you're giving 100%. When you commit yourself to doing 100%, there are no questions asked, no lines drawn, no doing or giving more than he/she is. When you commit yourself to doing 100%, you have an understanding from the beginning - you've already made the decision - you're giving 100% regardless of what your spouse is giving.

Today's challenge is to commit yourself to giving 100%. I know this sounds difficult and I know the selfishness inside each and every one of us wants to say that you're not going to put more into your marriage than your husband or wife puts in - you don't want to be "used" - you don't want to be "taken advantage of." Don't be deceived. Marriages not only fall apart, but end completely with that type of mindset. Every wife is called to submit to and respect/reverance her husband as unto the lord. Every husband is called to love his wife as Christ loved the church. Husbands and wives, please understand that this means a sacrifice of self and an effort of 100% on both your parts regardless of the level of effort put forth by your spouse. You are accountable for your own actions, IN SPITE of what your spouse does or doesn't do. Do not let anyone or anything be your excuse for disobedience.