‘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.’ (1Pet.3:7)
The above scripture has always made deep impression on me when discussion marriage. Each statement made in it has implications which will make any couple that thinks deeply on them to take their partners much more serious than they used to. Let’s look at those statements together:
DWELLING ACCORDING TO KNOWLEDGE.
Dwelling with your spouse according to knowledge will make you to understand the following in your relationship with you spouse.
• This relationship is “till death do us path.”
• In this relationship you will be offended.
• In this relationship the devil will attempt to scatter you.
• In this relationship ministry will compete with your home.
• In this relationship there will be challenges.
• In this relationship there will be temptations.
• In this relationship you have a common glorious future.
When you have the knowledge of the above, it makes you to be watchful. For instance, once you know and believe that the relationship is until death do you part, when it appears as if there are challenges that can tear you apart when you are fifty years old, you will remind yourself that you still have a long way to go.
HONOURING YOUR SPOUSE
• Listen to her opinions.
• Take cautions from her.
• Put her first after God.
• Defend her.
• Cover up her area of imperfections.
• Carry out tasks for her joyfully.
Honoring your spouse may make you to do some things which those with lack of understanding may believe is foolishness. That is why I love the following scripture
Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (1Cor.1:25)
When honoring ano another becomes mutual in your home, your home becomes a pleasant place to be.
HEIRS TOGETHER.
• When you are married, it is like opening a joint account with joint signatory mandate, you can’t withdraw from divine account if there is no peace at home.
• Fulfillment in life remains a dream if the home is on fire.
• Fulfillment in ministry is difficult without your spouse.
Being heirs together means that you are joint inheritors. You can’t have the inheritance alone. It means you must do everything to ensure that you are one at home with your spouse because you may miss the inheritance if you are not together.
THE YOUR PRAYERS BE NOT HINDERED.
• Your prayers are hindered when there is no peace at home.
• Anything that can hinder your prayer has the potential to hinder you from making heaven. Consequently, your heaven is questionable if there is no peace at home.
To me, this is the most significant part of this scripture. Anything that can prevent your prayer from being answered can prevent you from experiencing fulfillment in life and also effectively prevent you from making heaven.
And this is the second thing you do:
You cover the altar of the LORD with tears,
With weeping and crying;
So He does not regard the offering anymore,
Nor receive it with goodwill from your hands.
Yet you say, “For what reason?”
Because the LORD has been witness
Between you and the wife of your youth,
With whom you have dealt treacherously;
Yet she is your companion
And your wife by covenant.(Mal.2:13-14)
As partners in this divine institution of marriage, let us take the counsel in this scripture serious, as it has great potential in making our homes to be in the will of God. It makes us to remember always that we are heirs together of the grace of life.
Dr. Mike Oluniyi.
