To restore the first love in your marriage is the first step of marriage management.
A pastor shares a sermon entitled "To regain the first love in marriage" in a Sunday service held in a house church of Hangzhou, quoting Revelations 2:2-5.
Revelations 2:2-5
"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place."
Marriage is like a garden that needs cultivation and trimming.
How does one apply Revelations 2:2-5, which was written for the church, into marriage?
A theologian proposed that God set up two institutions on the earth to show His will and care to human beings: the church and family. We are born to a family, where we also grow up and receive nurture and education. Similarly, a Christian starts his or her new life in a church. "God created us with love and redeemed us out of love. The most direct manifestation of His love for us is in a family."
Love shows most directly in a family through the unconditional love of parents and mutual care among brothers and sisters. Parents make a family powerful and a good marriage strengthens them to raise a family. Therefore, a family is important, and a good marriage is essential.
"Long-married people are likely to become the church in Ephesus, who forsook its first love." States the pastor.
Michal and David paid the price for their marriage; but, it ended up with a tragedy.
Two people in love begin a new journey when they get married. A good marriage needs joint management of a couple.
"Michal, the daughter of Saul, was the first wife of David. It must have created a great stir when they were married.At that time, David killed the giant Goliath, so the women from all the towns of Israel sang with dances to honor his achievement, "David (has slain) his tens of thousands." (2 Samuel 18:7) He was the hero of Israel.
However, the marriage between Michal and David didn't last long and ended up with a tragedy.
We can learn three lessons from their marriage:
First of all, they both paid a price for the marriage. David risked his life to get two hundred Philistine foreskins as the price for the bride. (1 Samuel 18: 25-27) Michal, who was in love with David, helped him escape the hunting of Saul for many times.
Secondly, a husband or wife should understand the idea of having a partner and support what she or he desires to do. "When David returned home to bless his household, Michal, the daughter of Saul, came out to meet him and said, 'How did the king of Israel distinguish himself today? disrobing in the sight of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!'" She satirized and despised him, for she didn't know his wish and passion. David, enthroned, desired to bring the ark of God to the City of David more than being a king.
Third, the parents' attitude determines the future of their children's marriage. Michal was actually the tool of Saul used to kill David. After David survived from being hunted by Saul, he hid everywhere and away from Jerusalem for more than a decade. When he came back and was made king, Saul was dead and his wife was already married with Paltiel, son of Laish. Her whole marriage was controlled by her father.
The wise action and speech of Abigail gave her good marriage.
Abigail was also the wife of David. But before marrying David, she was a former wife of Nabal.
"The Bible recorded that Abigail was an excellent mediator when David intended to kill Nabal. "
This is how she reconciled the issue:
1. Attending to the matter with wit -- She decided not to discuss the thing with her husband immediately after hearing the whole story reported by one of her servants.
2. Meeting David -- "When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed down before David with her face to the ground. She fell at his feet." She advised him with a wise speech. After the sincere speech, she presented gifts to him.
3. A perfect result -- Her thoughtful and heartfelt words, coupled with the lavish gifts, touched the heart of David, who believed that this was God's wonder. As a result, an imminent catastrophe was avoided. "Then David accepted from her hand what she had brought him and said, 'Go home in peace. I have heard your words and granted your request.'" (1 Samuel 25:35)
Her intelligence and wisdom eventually led her to becoming the wife of David.
Translated by Karen Luo
