Sunday, December 28 Each one of you must love his wife as he does himself; on the other hand, the wife should have deep respect for her husband.​—Eph. 5:33.

[Áine]

Sunday, December 28

Each one of you must love his wife as he does himself; on the other hand, the wife should have deep respect for her husband.—Eph. 5:33.

 

All marriages have difficulties. The Bible frankly acknowledges that married people will have “tribulation in their flesh.” (1 Cor. 7:28) Why? Because marriage brings two imperfect people together, each with different characteristics, likes, and dislikes. Mates may come from different cultures or backgrounds. They may, in time, display traits that were not noticeable before the wedding. Any of those things can cause friction. Instead of recognizing that each has a part in the problem and therefore should work to resolve it, they may blame their mate. They may even come to see separation or divorce as the solution. But is giving up on the marriage the answer? No. Jehovah directs that married people respect the marriage arrangement even if their mate is difficult to live with. w24.03 16 ¶8; 17 ¶11

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Jehovah does not pretend that marriage is easy. He says that married people will have “tribulation in their flesh.” That is realistic. Two imperfect people do not suddenly become perfect just because they said vows. Different habits, backgrounds, and expectations can rub against each other over time. — 1 Corinthians 7:28
 

The problem is not that difficulties exist. The danger comes when each mate decides the other one is the problem. When blame replaces self-examination—love cools and respect weakens. That is when thoughts like giving up begin to sound reasonable.
 

Jehovah’s opinion is steady and protective. He does not tell husbands to wait until respect feels deserved, nor wives to wait until love feels effortless. He asks for action first. A husband shows love even when it costs him pride. A wife shows deep respect even when emotions are strained. Those choices protect the marriage arrangement itself. Malachi 2:16; Ecclesiastes 7:9; Ephesians 5:33
 

Think of it like repairing a bridge while still crossing it. If both stop working because the damage feels unfair, the bridge fails. If both keep repairing while walking carefully, the bridge holds.
 

Love and respect work that way.
 

They are not rewards at the end; they are the tools used along the way.