This Marital Moments article will focus on a new topic I call "An Honorable Marriage". The text will be found in Romans 12:10. There the Word of God states, "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor pre-ferring one another". God has given us a command to "honor" those in the family of God. If we are to honor those with whom we go to Church with each week how much more do you think we should honor those with whom we share our lives with in holy matrimony? In I Peter 3:7 the Bible commands the hus-band to "give honor unto the wife". Eph. 5:33 the wife is "to reverence her husband". In I Timothy 5:17 the elders are to be counted worthy of "double honor". Also in I Timothy 6:1 we find that "servants are to give honor to their masters". (Today we would refer to this as employees giving honor to their employers.) As you can readily see, we have a tremendous responsibility to honor each other in the Christian world. This same responsibility is placed upon us in the marriage relationship. In fact, God will hold us accountable for the way in which we honored our mates. In discussing this topic, I will focus on three main points: (1) The Meaning Of An Honorable Marriage, (2) The Character-istics of a Dishonorable Marriage, and (3) The Qualities Of An Honorable Marriage. I will begin by presenting to us the Meaning Of An Honorable Mar-riage. In an Honorable Marriage We Value Our Mate. The word "honor" means to value. To place a great price, weight, or significance on someone or some-thing. Seven times in the New Testament the word is translated "price". In I Corinthians 6:20 the Bible states, "For you are brought with a price". God so highly valued us that He paid a great price for us. We are to value our mate as being someone of great price. He or she must become to you a priceless treasure. Such a "treasure" would be closely guarded, protected, and placed in a special place of honor. When I honor my wife / husband then I place great value on them. They are special to me. I value her / him so highly that I willingly and knowingly give my all to the relationship. Matthew 6:21 states, "For where your treasure is there will your heart be also". An honorable marriage is one in which both partners are wrapped up heart and soul in the relationship because that is where their heart is. In An Honorable Marriage We Respect Our Mate. The word "honor" also carries the thought of esteeming someone. To respect them. As an object of great value they are to be treated with kindness and respect. When I honor someone I show genuine appreciation and admiration for them. In a court of law you would address the judge as Your Honor. This is done out of respect for his position. A wife or a husband must be treated with such thoughtfulness and respect. We must show appreciation to them often. We must talk to them respectfully. We must state our admiration for them. We must show our respect by our conduct in front of them. We must encourage others to express to them respect and honor. Of course one must be honorable if he / she is to be treated with honor and respect. In An Honorable Marriage We Elevate Our Mate. Notice the word "preferring" in Romans 12:10. The word means to go before or to lead. To be placed out in front. The word does not mean to place ourselves out in front, or to regard ourselves to be one of great importance, but rather the placing or elevating of our husband / wife forward in all that we do. We are to think of them first and foremost. Everything we do we must stop and consider how it effects them. Will they be helped or hurt by my words or my actions?Do I build her up or tear her down? Our mate is to be number one all the time in our life. We must place them on a pedestal of honor and do all that we can to help them to become greater and better. Remember, if we would have an Honorable Marriage we must value, respect, and elevate our mate.
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