Affection Due -- March 22, 2009

"Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control."
1 Corinthians 7:3-5NKJV

It is clear that God expects us to be affectionate with our spouses. Not any kind of affection the person wants to get but the affection DUE the other. Whatever kind of affection the person needs to experience love is to be given. The more romantic partner may find themselves having to be more direct with their spouse. The less romantic partner may have to work at being creative and mood setting for their spouse. We are to render the affection that will communicate our love and value for them. This way they can know we are not taking them for granite.

Each person is to use their body to please the other within the bounds of normalcy and health. No abuse, please. No weird bizarre behaviors should be allowed to dishonor the marriage bed. Nor should infidelity mar the image of Christ with His Church. But beyond the obvious there is great freedom in the physical relationship God has planned for His people to enjoy. There is no exact, right way to share intimacy with our marriage partner. Each expression of affection will be unique and acceptable within the broad boundaries of God’s restrictions against abuse and infidelity.

The physical aspect of marriage addressed here can actually make room for Satan to work in the relationship, if it is not met appropriately. It is an issue of commitment. Your spouse had committed to meet all their sexual needs with you. That makes it unreasonable for us to deprive each other and gives the enemy a target to shoot at. We risk emotional disconnect with each other and possibly unfaithfulness or fantasy sins of imagining others and the “what ifs” of life.

Loving My Wife,

Pastor Jason