Marriage Moment Monday

 1 Corinthians 7:3

Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.

Let's take a closer look at this verse.

First, this verse speaks both to the husband and the wife. The husband is called to do something, but let's not forget that the wife is called to do the same. Don't stop at the colon and just use this verse to tell your husband how he is to treat you; you are called to treat him the same way.

"[D]ue benevolence". What exactly does that mean?

Well, according to the Strong's Concordance, "due" means:

 to owe (pecuniarily); figuratively, to be under obligation (ought, must, should); morally, to fail in duty:--behove, be bound, (be) debt(-or), (be) due(-ty), be guilty (indebted), (must) need(-s), ought, owe, should.

And "benevolence" means:

kindness; euphemistically, conjugal duty:--benevolence, good will. 

We are under obligation to show kindness. That seems simple enough, but how are we to show kindness? Well, "euphemistically" means (according to dictionary.com):

the substitution of a mild, indirect, or vague expression for one thought to be offensive, harsh, or blunt.

If we can say something nicer to our husbands, we should. That means we should watch our tone of voice as well as our word choices. 

Most people should know what "conjugal duty" means, but just in case you don't, also according to dictionary.com:

pertaining to the relation between marriage partners

I know this is a subject that many feel uncomfortable talking about, but sex in marriage is good. God calls us to show kindness in the area of sex (the relation between marriage partners). We should be thinking of our husband's desires and needs over how we feel. Now, I'm not saying that we should just do it whenever he desires (sometimes we just aren't physically able or too exhausted, etc), but we need to take his desires into account and treat him with kindness. 

In short, we need to treat our husband how we would like to be treated. Or, in the words of our Lord, 

 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. ~ Luke 6:31