health, and I have never thought that I was particularly good look ing. I have to fight to keep my body from putting on weight. Yet, in spite of the imperfections, I take good care of my body. God says that husbands and wives are "one flesh." I am to love my wife even though I may be aware of her shortcomings. Real love cares for the one loved. I "nourish and cherish" my body, Paul reminds me. "Norish" means that I supply the food and clothes needed. "Cherish" suggests to warm with tender care. Some hus bands, being practical men, figure that if they pay the bills, give their wives enough to live on, do not run around with other women, and work hard, that is all that can be asked of them. Real love does far more than this. It acts in tender ness and kindness. As a husband, you are respon sible for the mental, physical, and spiritual welfare of your spouse. A friend of mine has what he calls his "Sanity Fund" which is a part of the family budget. When he comes home and discovers that his wife has had a hard day with the youngsters, he calls a babysitter and takes his wife out for dinner. May be you feel that you cannot afford it. Believe me, you cannot afford not to do it. After all, what you do for your wife, you do for yourself. Most important, talk with your wife and communicate readily. Tell her that you love her. Say it with a dish cloth, say it with dinner, say it with flowers, but above all, say it with words! In too many mar riages conversation is a lost art. No marriage can long endure silence. The wife may clench her fists and hold on by sheer determination. Page 19
difficult to submit to the wishes of a man whom she felt loved her enough to die for her. John Chrysostom, the great fourth century preacher, spoke this word to husbands: "Hast thou seen the measure of obedience? Hear also the measure of love. Wouldst thou that thy wife should obey thee as the church doth Christ? Have care thyself for her, as Christ for the church; and if it should be needful that thou shouldst give thy life for her, or be cut in pieces a thousand times, or endure anything whatever, refuse it not; yea, if thou hast suffered this thou hast not done what Christ did, for thou doest this for one to whom thou wert already united, but He for her who rejected Him and hated Him. . . . He brought her to his feet by His great care, not by threats of fear nor any such thing; so do thou conduct thyself towards thy wife." Our love must also be purifying. Christ gave Himself for the church "that He might present it to Him self a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and with out blemish." Any love which drags a wife down is false. A Christian husband should be concerned about his wife's spiritual welfare. A wife will usually reflect her hus band's attitude toward God and His Word. It is true that some wives have to build a spiritual life in spite of their husbands who may not be believers. The second standard of a Chris tian husband's love is defined by the standard of concern that he has for his own body (vs. 28). This is a human and realistic love. I have many things about my body I don't like. Sometimes I am in ill
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