In Titus 2:4, Paul says: By looking at them, the younger women will know how to love their husbands and children, be virtuous and pure, keep a good house, be good wives.  In Ephesians 5:25, he talks to the men: Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving, not getting.

This is the first point of departure for marriage. Together with God love forms the foundation of marriage. Love is the glue that binds man and wife together, even though they are different. Even though they get angry at one another, love brigs them back together again. Love is the make-up juice. Love is the band-aid, and when necessary, the bandage.

If there is no love, there is no hope. I there is no love, there is nothing that calls you back to one another. If there is no love, it is one great big struggle that makes your heart sink.

Love is not a choice. It’s a must. It’s a command. Something we all have to work at, and work hard too. You see, nowadays love is more like airtime that runs out. The love tank between a man and a woman runs dry. In the past there was no other way to go about it, they had to fill that tank again. Today it’s easy to get rid of the tank and find a new partner, just to realise around the next corner that the love tank is leaking even worse.

God has bound husband and wife together in a special way and that is through love. It is within this unique and special relationship that both parties grow and reach their full potential. Husband and wife encourage one another. Husband and wife laugh and play and cry together. Husband and wife serve one another. All because there is love.

And even more than that. God established marriage to bring children into the world. It is the safe harbour to which children and spouses return again and again, where they can be themselves, are protected, and, yes, are loved.

However, even here the world and evil find a way to interfere and try their utmost to empty that love tank. And the worst of it is that they succeed to do it in more than half of marriages today. Marriages are being targeted in an enormous attack.

Therefore, we must use all our energy to ensure that the canal of love that flows into our love tanks flows strongly. It should actually overflow, because the people around us in the world also need some of it.

Let’s focus on this command. Let’s be the least and let go of pride. Let’s be creative and look for places to surprise our spouse and partner with love. Let’s pump more and more love in one another’s tanks, because our relationships will become different and the world will feel Jesus’ love.

Scripture
Titus 2:1-5

Reflection
How strong does your love flow?
Can you tank be fuller?
How can you live love more?

Prayer
Father, thank you for teaching us about love. Real love! Love that gives, and gives, and gives, without expecting anything in return. Please help me to give like that too. In Jesus Name. Amen.