Marriage #5 You don't have authority over your own body!

This is a very important teaching from God's Word that is over looked very often by both in a marriage. Please read these verses:



1 Corinthians 7:1-7



Principles of Marriage

7 Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me:

It is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2 Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. 3 Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. 4 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. 5 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. 6 But I say this as a concession, not as a commandment. 7 For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that.



Paul was a man of self-control who chose to stay unmarried and devote his life to God, which if we all could do would be best because that distraction called marriage would not be there. However, Paul knew how weak we are! So lets look at a couple of important things here:



1. v.2 tells us we are to have our own wife or husband. Notice it is singular. One! Let us be faithful to that one!



2. v.3 tells us to give the affection due to our spouses. This is very important to catch because if we love and show the attention due to our spouses everything else will tend to fall into place. Do not skip this part and expect the next verse to happen!!!!



3. v.4 tells us the husband and the wife do not have authority over their own body. Wow! have you ever heard that before. Your spouse has authority over your body. Remember we said when we are married we become "one flesh" so in reality this makes sense. Treat your spouses body like you would treat your own...with respect and much care,



4. v.5 tells us that sexually we are not to deprive one another, except for times of fasting and prayer which would be total devotion to God. Even in this Paul knows how weak we are and warns us to not do this for too long for we will fall into temptation from the devil! Now let me say a word here to the ladies, I believe this is very important for you in relation to your husband. Men are wired as visual, sexual beings. They need your love making in more ways than you can imagine. This is a major reason why divorces happen is neglect in this area. You would be surprised at what your husband will do and how he will behave if this area of your life is being taken care of properly! Now to the men, our wives need attention! They want more than just a quicky in bed. They need conversation, touch, romance, and time! If you are taking care of these areas the love making will come much easier for her. This is a major reason wives leave their husbands, someone else is showing them the things they need! Do not neglect these areas!



The rest of these verses tell us again that Paul wishes we were more like him but he realizes God makes folks different. These verses on marriage are very important from the Word of God....sit down with your spouse and discuss them and see where you need to do more work! It will pay off in the long run!



Tom