Men are told to Love as Christ, and lay down their lives. Is it because men take their wives for granted. And because women already do this as their desire is toward the husband? Genesis 3:16
Taken out of context, "Husbands Love your wives," becomes a mantra for failure in the husbands who may not be as strong as Christ or to lay down their life. This is not just for husbands to lay down lives, though our culture has rightly romanticized the hero who saves women and children by sacrificing himself first. It says we should all love one another as Christ who gave Himself. That could be just as easily mean wives love your husbands (or children) as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it.
The beginning of Ephesians five starts out with an example of this love.
"1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;
2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. Ephesians5:1-2.
Unlike an offering for sin the "offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma" is a love offering. In other words you are not saved by giving up yourself, but give to others as you would to God.
IF you WERE saved by giving of yourself it should be remembered what Jesus said to those that gave as unto the Lord.
"The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.' "Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;" Matt 25:40-41.
God's excellent beauty can be seen in all of creation including the differences of man and woman and the way they approach love.
Some say a woman is not commanded to love her husband in the bible but that a man is to love his wife as Christ loved the church. You may be on to something here and that is "falling in love" describes fallen man or in this case a fallen woman.
Eve received the "curse" of the fall; pain in childbirth; dislike for snakes;
also her desire, will be towards her husband but he will rule over her.
I'm of the opinion some of this curse has been removed...
But Galatians 3:13 says, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us"
The curse of the Law is like the curse of the fall. But most women still don't like snakes. OK some do. Woman no longer have pain in childbirth. Uh, That would depend on what health insurance they have, LOL.
:nicenurse:
And women now have total control of their desires and emotions and are able to choose who/what to set their affections on. Right?
The curse may have been removed but Christians are still learning how to walk in the fullness of salvation.
Should men and woman "Fall" in love? Or do men have control (dominion) over women in that area? Does it seem woman/mothers are more loving than Fathers? Are modern woman better off finding love "today" than in historical times back? :waving:
GodsDe, I tend to agree with. We women and men think differently as many books out here describe about us. Women from Mars, Men from Venus... or is it the other way round?:goofball:
Not so much speaking in terms of marraige, but just in loving as Single or Divorced single people. Yes, I to agree that once we've expressed love for one another, I for one have the mindset that I want to do all I can to keep that "love" a man feels for me going. Sometimes, in past experiences, I can look back now, and see I probably gave more than I was giving to God in my love for Him(God). Because God is a "jealous" God, He put the brakes on me. I've learned that He must come first, and as I keep Him first, He blesses all my relationships for the betterment of my good for His purpose.
