same address
June 27, 2009
READ: Song of Songs 3:1-4
One night as I lay in bed, I yearned for
my lover (v.1).
A Japanese man living alone in the city of Fukoka noticed that food was disappearing from his fridge. So he installed a security camera which showed someone moving around inside his house while he was away. When the police investigated, they found a 58-year-old woman that had been living in a tiny storage space in the house for almost a year!
It’s hard to believe that two people could share an address for that long without ever connecting. Sadly, many marriages fall into the same pattern. It takes effort to stay close so that “the two are united into one” (Ephesians 5:31).
Solomon’s wife has some pointers for connected living. She says, “One night as I lay in bed, I yearned for my lover” (Song of Songs 3:1). Generating tender thoughts about our spouses can keep our hearts open to connecting when we have time to be together.
And speaking of togetherness, his wife decided, “I will search for the one I love” (v.2). She got out of bed, threw on her trusted tunic, and charged out the door to find her husband! Just like her, husbands and wives need to seek each other out despite the deterrents of long hours at work, dirty dishes, and soccer games.
Finally, Solomon’s wife catches up with him. She says, “I caught and held him tightly” (v.4). She is so happy to find her guy that she takes him to bed! Staying physically involved is a part of God’s plan for the “oneness” that makes the marriage relationship so special.
Marriage should be much more than two people sharing an address. At its best, it involves warm thoughts, time together, and physical intimacy. At its worst, it may leave you wondering, “What happened to the salami sandwich I left in the fridge?” —Jennifer Benson Schuldt
Why is “oneness” so crucial when it comes to marriage? What could you do this week to draw closer to God?
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June 27, 2009
READ: Proverbs 1:1-9
My son, hear the instruction of your father. —Proverbs 1:8
The custom of a bachelor party before a wedding is often characterized by drunkenness and carousing. The party-hearty attitude seems driven by the belief that the groom will soon be married and have to settle down to a life of domestic boredom.
Not long ago, one of my nephews got married. The best man planned a get-together for Joel, but with a refreshing difference. Those invited were asked to bring some thoughts to share that would help him in this new chapter of life.
When I arrived at the informal breakfast, I found a cheerful spirit of camaraderie. Fathers, uncles, brothers, and friends were animated in lively discussion. The father of the bride and the father of the groom were asked to share their advice on what they had learned in their own Christian marriage. Their thoughts were personal, realistic, and biblical.
The book of Proverbs mirrors this kind of mentoring in facing life’s challenges and rewards. “My son, hear the instruction of your father . . . for [it] will be a graceful ornament on your head” (Prov. 1:8-9).
How God-honoring it would be if more couples began their marriage with an attitude that heeded the wisdom of those who walked the path before them. — Dennis Fisher
He is truly wise who gains his wisdom from the experience of others.
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