Love Always Protects

The Real Men Challenge manual is focused on the Love Chapter of 1 Corinthians 13 as a template to help men in their relationships and provide insight and guidance for a world where family violence has become an epidemic.

“Love… it always protects …” 1 Corinthians 13:7
The Love Chapter says “Love Always Protects”. Here are some thoughts on that theme.

True love is a sacrificial love. 

Jesus said: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for his friends.” John 15:13

So question, men, what are laying down in your life to protect your relationship.

  • Your position as ruler of the home?
  • Your money?
  • Your job?
  • Your right to a Saturday night boozer?
  • Your right to sex whenever you want it?

What positive steps are you taking to fulfil the challenges of “Love … always protects.”

Protecting is not control. Who put you in charge anyway? Protecting is a partnership but for men, here are some guidance as to what non-controlling protection looks like in your love relationship.

  • Protecting your faith
    • quality time with God
    • Prayer (alone, with partner, with kids)
    • Bible reading
    • Worship
    • Service
    • Good works
    • Instructing the kids in the things of God
  • Protecting your wife
    • from your anger and frustrations – “In your anger do not sin: Do not Let the sun go down while you are still angry.” Ephesians 4:26
    • from her fears – “Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them” Colossians 3:19
  • Protecting the marriage bed  – “Marriage should be honoured by all, and the marriage bed kept pure…” Hebrews 13:4)
    • from lust
    • from pornography
    • from the temptations of this world
    • from adultery
    • from neglect – “The husband should fulfil his marital duty to his wife …” 1 Corinthians 7:3
  • Protecting your children
    • from witnessing your anger – “Fathers do not exasperate your children; instead bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4
    • from your alcohol and drug abuse
    • from “helicopter parenting” instead of allowing them to take risks as they grow
  • Protecting your finances
    • You are your partner working together to ensure the needs of your family are met. This is not about the man being the sole provider but together with your partner ensuring the household finances are secure
    • Financial wisdom
      • Tithing to support the work of the Kingdom
      • do you have a budget
      • do you have control wasteful spending
      • do you have a saving plan
      • Avoiding the quick rich quick scams
    • Not being trapped by the love of money

One of the best books on managing fianances that my wife and I read and use is “The Barefoot Investor” by Scott Pape. “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” Proverbs 15:22

What else in your life do you need to protect?

  • Protecting the peace in your home
    • “Blessed be the peacemakers” Matt 5:9
    • “Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.” James 3:18

I hope that these thoughts will provoke self reflection and discussion in your home as you live out “Love … always protects.”

This entry was posted in Family, Marriage, Men. Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.