Thus, husbands ought to be loving their own wives as their own bodies. He who is loving his own wife is loving himself
Paul to the Ephesians 5: 28, Concordant New Testament
I've made no secret of the fact that in the past I have indulged in the temptations of the flesh. I have spent many a night in the local strip clubs that adorn the city of Portland. In fact, it is said that Portland has more strip clubs than any other city. I don't know if this is true, but what I do know is that it presents many men with the wrong opportunities. The other day a gym friend of mine asked me just what my favorite part of the female body was. Of course, I was taken aback by his question. Immediately, I began to recall all the nights that I spent gazing at women. But that was then. I'm guessing that my comrade expected me to regale him with a few examples of what I enjoyed about the female anatomy. So, imagine his surprise when I didn't take the bait but declared that I had come to enjoy not only the female form, but her heart and mind as well. See, my friend comes from the place where I used to be. A place where a womans body is the main focal point of her attraction. While you might agree with him, try mentioning that to any female that you know and see how that works out for you. For in my experience, a woman may enjoy the attention given to her physical appearance, any man who focuses solely on that attribute will more than likely be in for an argument he isn't prepared for. Again, I've been there. When my friend asked me what I found so useful about a womans heart and mind (Being oh so careful not to offend any women who might be standing nearby), I explained to him that it is in her heart and mind that you will truly know her. One of the most important passages on how it is that men should view a woman was spoken by the apostle Paul in Ephesians. It is Paul who proclaims that husbands should love their wives as strongly as they love their own bodies {Paul to the Ephesians 5:28}. I have been blessed to be witness to the marriage relationships of a few solid Christian men in my life. I have been witness to what a Godly marriage relationship is. A good friend of mine recently celebrated fifty years of marriage with his wife. Fifty years! I wonder if my gym friend could ever imagine spending so many years with one woman. Up until some years ago, so did I. But this is what pride and arrogance can do to people. Seeing yourself as someone who takes what he wants regardless of the consequences. My own father was like that. My own father lost his family because he arrogantly did what he wanted to do regardless of others. This is THE one reason that I swore that I would never be like him.
And Yaweh Elohim said: It is not good for the human to be alone by himself. I shall make for him a helper as his compliment.
Genesis 2: 18, Concordant New Testament
I can attest to the fact that when I indulged in the things of the flesh, that I rarely looked upon a woman as something more than she was there for my own enjoyment. Sadly, this continues to be the thought process of so many men in our society. The dramatic rise we've seen in divorce rates and domestic violence attest to this. To believe in this lie of the deceiver is to believe that man is the prominent creation in the Fathers eyes. Nothing could be further from the truth. We're told that God created woman as a "Compliment" to the man {Genesis 2:18}. We're also told that the Father created this compliment from within the man himself {Genesis 2:21-24}. Adam named his compliment woman "Because she was taken out of man" {Genesis 2:23}. Does this sound like God gave second hand status to the woman He created? Does this sound like the Father intended for the man to domineer over a woman? No! For when we look at what the Father truly intended the male and female relationship to be we see something wonderful. It is for this reason that I could proclaim to my gym friend that I admire a woman for her heart and who it is that she is in the Father. Yes, there are men who will idolize the physical attractiveness of a woman for their own enjoyment. But to know her as the Father knows her, that's better than porn any day.
~Scott~
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