Characteristics of Love: Love is honourable
1 Peter 3:6-7 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
1 Peter 3:6-7(NLT) For instance, Sarah obeyed her husband, Abraham, and called him her master. You are her daughters when you do what is right without fear of what your husbands might do. In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.
1 Peter 3:6-7(MSG) Sarah, for instance, taking care of Abraham, would address him as “my dear husband.” You’ll be true daughters of Sarah if you do the same, unanxious and unintimidated. The same goes for you husbands: Be good husbands to your wives. Honor them, delight in them. As women they lack some of your advantages. But in the new life of God’s grace, you’re equals. Treat your wives, then, as equals so your prayers don’t run aground.
Introduction: Calvary greetings to all. Your contributions and questions are welcome as iron sharpens iron.
🙏 I pray that the Grace of God will not be frustrated in our lives and homes in Jesus name.
We are looking at 15th characteristic of God’s kind of Love this week: Love is honourable.
Anyone that is honourable is good, deserves to be respected and admired.
Therefore, what is found in God’s kind of Love is characterised by treating the loved ones with goodness, respect and admiration.
Worldly or valentine’s love is characterised with insults and disrespect. That is where you see spouses passing insults and very disrespectful to one another in public.
I sometimes ago heard a husband describing his wife in the presence of friends and relatives as “Àpò Èlùbó” (bag of yam powder) which means fat and shapeless. What kind of Love exists in such relationship? Worldly love of course. The way you honour your spouse is determined by the way he or she will be honoured by others.
There is a saying which says; if you sell your spouse cheaply in times of plenty, you will not afford him or her in times of scarcity.
The person you honour will not be cursed, disrespected or insulted publicly even in anger.
When I was growing up, you don’t call your senior siblings by name. “Brother” or “sister” is preceded even if it is nine months gap. This culture actually helps in relating to each other with respect especially in new life with Christ. Unfortunately, this culture is now fading away as we imbibe western culture with arguments that calling your seniors “brother” or “sister” is outdated hence the culture going to extinction. This is part of the reasons why incest and fighting dirty among siblings are found more these days. I am not surprised as Scriptures must be fulfilled about abounding iniquity in the end times.
Matthew 24:12(NLT) Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold.
It is the love for God that grows cold due to rampant iniquity among Christians. When unbelievers become close associates, sinful influences are inevitable thereby serving God will be from afar.
When you honour your spouse, nothing will make you to have side-chicks or sinful partner. When man seeks sexual relationship with another woman, he discredits his wife before the woman so as to have his way and the woman will be deceived by that because every woman wants to hear sweet words and assurance for preference. This is also the same for a woman that seeks sexual relationship with another man.
When a spouse honours his wife or husband anywhere in his/her presence or absence, publicly or privately, such spouse will be honoured. It will also drive away predators and home breakers.
❓From vs 6 of our text today, do you know why Sarah called her husband: lord, master and my dear husband ?
It accorded respect and submission to Abraham before everyone.
1 Peter 3:5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:
🛑 As Christian wives, your manner of behaviour to your husband will determine your faith and holiness in God no matter your level both spiritual and physical.
Ephesians 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
🛑 And unto the husbands, verse 7 started by saying; Likewise, In the same way, and The same goes for you husbands to honour your wives. It means while your wife calls you lord, she must be honoured and not be treated as a slave.
Ephesians 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Ephesians 5:21(MSG) Out of respect for Christ, be courteously reverent to one another.
When God’s kind of Love exists among couples, their marriage will be honourable without immorality.
Hebrews 13:4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
Apart from benefit of unhindered prayers, anyone who gives honour by fleeing from lusts but follow after righteousness, faith, love and peace with pure heart will be used and honoured by God.
2 Timothy 2:21-22 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work. Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
❓ What practical steps are we to take as we walk in love this week?
Choose a way to show honour and respect to your spouse that is above your normal routine. It may be holding the door for her. It might be putting his clothes away for him. It may be the way you listen and speak in your communication. Show your mate that he or she is highly esteemed in your eyes
✍ Finally brethren, how do you hold your vessel or body? Is it in holiness and honour or in lustful passion like unbelievers who violate their spouses with impunity? Remember that God judges all. We honour our spouses because we love God and desire to obey Him.
1 Thessalonians 4:4-6(NLT) Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor— not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways. Never harm or cheat a fellow believer in this matter by violating his wife, for the Lord avenges all such sins, as we have solemnly warned you before.
✋ Maranatha.
