When I told the intending couple in counselling the need to honour each other, the lady turned and looked at the young man. Apparently, she’s been calling him by his first name in a disrespectful manner in public. The young man was not comfortable with that until I addressed it in counselling. You need to honour your spouse.
Friend, you need to honour your spouse (1 Peter 3:1-7). One of the possible consequences of marriage is familiarity. I personally feel that if you honour someone before they ask you out or marry you, you should not suddenly reduce your honour for them in marriage. Access must not be taken for granted. Friendship must not lead to familiarity that brings dishonour (1 Samuel 23:17).
Some couples honour every other person except their spouse. If wives honour their husbands the way they honour their boss at work and pastor in church, most marriages will enjoy more peace and prosperity (Proverbs 31:23). Successful marriage thrives on honour. What you honour is what would bless you.
Honour is a function of value (Proverbs 17:8). The more you value something or someone, the more you want to honour such. Value is based on revelation. You cannot value someone or something better than the revelation of that thing or person you have. What is your revelation about your spouse (Malachi 2:14-15)?
You need to grow in honour for your spouse rather than grow in familiarity. This means that you would grow in revelation (1 Samuel 25:28-39). You can know someone too much that you begin to dishonour them. But if such knowledge is rooted in a divine revelation of who they are and what they represent, it would bring honour and respect. Familiarity breeds contempt, but intimacy breeds respect.
Are you truly intimate with your spouse or just familiar with him or her (Ephesians 5:33)? Singles, the time to start practising honour for your spouse is during courtship. How do you address each other in private and public? Do you order your spouse around? Do you genuinely serve each other with love and respect? Honour attracts God’s blessings. Never forget this.
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria