Should We Have Warned Our Spouse at the Altar? - Today Can Be Different

Standing there before God and man, I grasped my soon-to-be-husband’s hands tightly. “I need to confess something, Bert. I haven’t quite mastered 1 Corinthians 13:5 yet. So, maybe I’d be more honest if I said my vows this way: ‘I, Sheryl, take you, Bert, to be my husband if you don’t insult me, hurt my feelings, or do anything to upset me from this day forward, until death do us part.’”

Even though my revised wedding vows would have more honestly revealed the woman Bert was about to spend the rest of his life with, I didn’t actually reword them almost 18 years ago. I have no doubt, however, that he would’ve appreciated the warning.

This week we’re focusing on the third challenge in 1 Corinthians 13:5 (ESV):

[Love] is not irritable.

The Amplified Bible makes sure we get the point:

It is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered].

What?! Irritable?! Overly sensitive?! Easily Angered?! Me?! When do I ever act like that?!

But seriously, don’t you hate it when your behavior escalates the problem? Would the people in your life benefit if you meditated on and applied 1 Corinthians 13:5?

Let’s meditate on this week’s verse to prevent walking-on-eggshell moments, especially when we’re so overly sensitive and easily angered that people would rather not be around us.

We could ask God to help us not be so thin-skinned and remind us to count to ten or, better yet, recite 1 Corinthians 13:5 (in the Amplified Bible) to give us space before we say anything we regret.

Let’s also pray for God to help us not take everything so personally. Let us ask the Holy Spirit to give us discernment to be able to perceive when someone’s comment or act wasn’t meant to be hurtful – and, if necessary, give us grace to forgive.

We can pray with confidence because God knows us well. He knows the areas we’re the most sensitive. He knows our triggers. And thankfully, He knows how much we want to behave in ways that honor Him.

On my worst days, the more I meditate on Scripture and focus on God (all He is to me – and I to Him) the more I experience satisfaction, peace, and joy, as well as less frustration, anger and hurt. I’m calmer. Less defensive.

Less likely to blow it.

When we trust God’s love for us, we become better at loving others. The better we become at loving others, the less we’ll wonder if we should’ve given our spouse a warning before they said, “I do.”

What about you?

I’d love to hear your thoughts about this post. (Others might also benefit from your comment.)

• How would the people in your life benefit if you meditated on and applied 1 Corinthians 13:5?

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