Bringing Joy To Our Spouse

 Marriage is a great blessing and a great challenge. I am afraid most people do not realize their responsibility in marriage. Most of us focus on having our needs met, not on meeting the needs of our spouse. When we enter marriage, we have expectations of what it will be like and what our relationship will do for us. Then, if the expectations are not met, we get upset. Many people give up. If they had only known what to do, they could have had a wonderful marriage. God showed Moses an important principle in having a healthy, happy marriage. (Deuteronomy 24:5) He gave a special command to a man who took a bride. He was not to go out with the army or be liable for any duty for one year. During that year, he was to stay home so that he could bring joy to his wife. Let's think about that for just a minute.

What if every married person took it as his or her responsibility to bring joy to their spouse? Now, I know true joy comes from the Lord, and it is a fruit of the Spirit. However, we can bring joy to people when we love them unconditionally, and we have joy in our heart doing what we do for them. We can make their life so pleasant that we are a source of joy to them. When Chris and I got married, her grandmother gave us some money on the condition that Chris would not work for the first year. That is just what we did. I was going to Baylor, and I was a youth and music director at a church, but Chris did not work. It was such a wonderful time of bonding together. We did everything we could together. We had time to talk and enjoy each other. I am not sure her grandmother was acting on the basis of this verse, but her wisdom has blessed our marriage now for almost 48 years. I pray we will all do whatever we can to bring joy to our marriage, so our bond will get deeper and deeper each year.

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Tomorrow, I intend to read Deuteronomy 25-27.