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234» Col 3:19 . . Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
The Greek verb translated "love" doesn't necessarily pertain to either
affection and/or fondness. It's more about civility than emotion. This is the
kind of love that we extend to everyone-- friend, foe, and stranger alike -
regardless of how we might feel about them. It's the very same love that
Jesus taught in Matt 5:44 which reads:
"You have heard that it was said: You shall love your neighbor, and hate
your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies,"
In other words; you don't especially have to like your enemies, but you do
have to be civil with them, i.e. courteous, kind, charitable, tolerant, patient,
diplomatic, tactful, gentle, reasonable, fair, deferent, approachable, cordial,
genial, affable, sociable, helpful, thoughtful, sympathetic, considerate, and
cooperative, etc.
I readily admit the difficulty of being nice to people who rub us the wrong
way; but still, Christian men whose marriages resemble an on-going cold
war would greatly ease the tensions in their homes, and make the situation
bearable for both sides of the bed, were they to simply be courteous.
"Harsh" can be exemplified any number of ways.
Abrasive
Abusive
Snapping
Critical
Cruel
Demanding
Fault Finding
Giving Her No Say In Important Decisions
Hostile
Impatient
Explosive
Insensitive
Intolerant
Laying Down The Law
Loud
Marginalizing
Mockery
Money Rationing
Nit Picking
Oppression
Penny Pinching
Public Scolding
Remarks About Her Appearance
Rough
Uncivil
Unfriendly
Obtuse
Unyielding
Those behaviors are very effective at making a Christian wife's existence
bitter, i.e. a living hell; especially a Christian wife who's making an honest
effort to comply with Col 3:18.
_
234» Col 3:19 . . Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
The Greek verb translated "love" doesn't necessarily pertain to either
affection and/or fondness. It's more about civility than emotion. This is the
kind of love that we extend to everyone-- friend, foe, and stranger alike -
regardless of how we might feel about them. It's the very same love that
Jesus taught in Matt 5:44 which reads:
"You have heard that it was said: You shall love your neighbor, and hate
your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies,"
In other words; you don't especially have to like your enemies, but you do
have to be civil with them, i.e. courteous, kind, charitable, tolerant, patient,
diplomatic, tactful, gentle, reasonable, fair, deferent, approachable, cordial,
genial, affable, sociable, helpful, thoughtful, sympathetic, considerate, and
cooperative, etc.
I readily admit the difficulty of being nice to people who rub us the wrong
way; but still, Christian men whose marriages resemble an on-going cold
war would greatly ease the tensions in their homes, and make the situation
bearable for both sides of the bed, were they to simply be courteous.
"Harsh" can be exemplified any number of ways.
Abrasive
Abusive
Snapping
Critical
Cruel
Demanding
Fault Finding
Giving Her No Say In Important Decisions
Hostile
Impatient
Explosive
Insensitive
Intolerant
Laying Down The Law
Loud
Marginalizing
Mockery
Money Rationing
Nit Picking
Oppression
Penny Pinching
Public Scolding
Remarks About Her Appearance
Rough
Uncivil
Unfriendly
Obtuse
Unyielding
Those behaviors are very effective at making a Christian wife's existence
bitter, i.e. a living hell; especially a Christian wife who's making an honest
effort to comply with Col 3:18.
_