Sometimes our men get hurt. They get attacked. They get beaten and stole from. They don't know where to turn, they fall, and they don't know how to get up. Some feel like they are left for dead in their circumstances.
I recently read the story of the Good Samaritan, a parable that I have read many times before, but while I read it this time, the Holy Spirit pressed upon my heart how similar the husband/wife relationship could be to this well-known parable.
Let's take a look:
A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road." Luke 10:30
A husband can sometimes take the wrong path in life and/or he can travel at the wrong time. This certainly could've been the case of the Jew as he was traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho on that fateful day.
Or maybe the Jewish man traveled the right path at the right time but the Lord allowed those things to happen to him. The same could be said of our husbands as they have encountered attacks- thieves that have stolen from them, beat them, and left them for dead by the side of the road.
In each marriage, attacks or adversities can all look different. They can have debilitating health issues, financial hardships, a lost way, a broken or difficult relationship, apathy, and/or spiritual despair, etc. All these things can leave our husbands feeling like they are crippled, laying by the side of the road.
And as each traveler came by in the Jewish man's story, they each responded to the hurt man in a different way. As I read that verse I thought about how I, as a wife, could respond to my husband when he goes through his adversities.
By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side."Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Luke 10:30-32
The Priest walked by and saw him, but kept on walking.
As my husband goes through his troubles, I can think that he is just fine and he has no need of me, so I move on with my own agenda, to do list, and plans for my day, and in doing so, I represent the Priest's actions in this story.
Then there's the Temple assistant (also known as a Levite, in other versions), he walked over to the man, but then he too, kept on walking.
I can take a look at my husband and see that he is hurting, but then decide that I am too busy to stop what I am doing, therefore, I would be no different than the Temple assistant.
Here's what's so interesting about these guys-- These men were Jews, as was the hurt man- they were their own people. Furthermore, both these men were known as 'religious'/spiritual people.
Yet, both these men were more concerned with themselves and their selfish pursuits that they did not stop to take the time to minister to this hurting and dying man.
Here's a parallel--I am my husband's wife. I bear his last name. I am his family. Plus, I am a spiritual, God-fearing woman. From outer appearances, I could look like and respond just like the Priest and the Temple assistant did.
So, I did a heart check and asked myself a few questions as I reflected on the times when my husband has faced difficulties:
- Are there times in my own life when I feel that my husband can weather the storms without me?
- Are there times when I don't want to physically serve him because I would rather serve my own selfish desires?
- Are there times when I don't know how to help him but he just needs my listening ear, yet I am too busy and distracted to give him my attention and the honor he deserves?
- Are there times when I feel like he has made poor choices and taken the wrong path, and I am critical and condemning towards him, rather than forgiving and gracious?
- Or are there times when he just needs my countenance to be one of thankfulness and contentment rather than a complaining and disrespectful attitude?
"Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. Luke 10:33, 34
Then the hero enters in on the scene.....
Yep, you read that right, a despised man; a man that was at odds with the Jews. I don't know about you but when someone despises me, the last thing I want to do is minister to that person. In fact, my flesh wants to despise them back!
But what does the despised man do? He ministers to a complete stranger giving of his own wine to disinfect the wounds, giving of his own oil to bring healing, and then he places him on his donkey and walks him to a nearby inn. There he leaves the man in good care with an innkeeper, tells him to take care of him, then he pays the bill.
I don't think it was easy for the Good Samaritan to give of himself and his possessions for a complete stranger, but what I love about this parable is that just before Jesus told this story, this was the reason why:
"'You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.' And, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" Luke 10:27
I can't help but think about the Good Samaritan Wife in this scenario-- one who can be married to a believer, or a man that is barely believing, or even an unbeliever. In any of those situations, she can be at odds with her man, so much so that she is losing and/or has lost respect for him (almost despising him), yet she ministers to her husband anyways, showing him mercy, love, and compassion. That certainly wouldn't be an easy task to do, but what Jesus wants from us is to love our husbands, (which is our neighbor), as ourselves.
When life becomes hard for my man, I can only hope to apply the Good Samaritan Principle with my closest neighbor, you know, the one I share my mattress, sheets and blankets with! I can't find a closer neighbor than that!
Perhaps you don't know how to bandage up your man's wounds and minister to him. That's okay, just take him to The Innkeeper; Jesus Christ. Let the Holy Spirit penetrate your heart and guide you, and even if you don't know what to say, He understandings your groanings.
Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Romans 8:26
How about you? Are you willing to do your best to become like the Good Samaritan Wife in your own marriage as you minister to your man? I do hope so!
Live a poured out life for the Master,
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One of my favorite lessons from the Bible. I like how you pushed us to look at it in a new way!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this story and making it practical for us as wives. Thank you for the reminder that I need to be a good Samaritan wife to my husband and be there for him.
ReplyDeleteI linked up a post for Actively Loving your Children - but I think it totally applies to your husband too! We forget sometimes that they also need to be care for and "cuddled" emotionally.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! It is my true desire to be a Good Samaritan Wife! What a great comparison as there is so much to learn in this story from Jesus. You are so right...it is important to look for opportunities to show respect, listen, offer comfort and simply LOVE our closest neighbor! Blessings, Joan
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked it, Amy! Thanks for stopping by.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
~jolene
Hi Sara,
ReplyDeleteOur men do need to be cared for and cuddled emotionally! Thanks for linking up.
~jolene
Chichi,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your encouraging words and blessings to you in your marriage as you live for your King!
~jolene
Hi Joan,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your sweet comment and for linking up to Marital Oneness Mondays! Your post was a wonderful fit (I enjoyed reading about your proposal)! I hope you join us next week!
Blessings,
~jolene
So often we forget we are our husband's first line of defense. We are the ones who must be there to minister and support to them. We get so busy in the church with "ministry" and forget our first ministry should be in our own home. Great reminder.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post!
ReplyDeleteSuch a wonderful lesson.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it, Denise!
ReplyDeleteAwe, thank you, Melissa!
ReplyDeleteWell said, Fawn. Thanks for stopping by!
ReplyDeleteIt's like seeing our husband's like God sees us - and loving unconditionally!
ReplyDeleteWhat a unique and wonderful perspective. I thoroughly enjoyed this post. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Jolene - You have no idea how chuffed I am to have found your blog. Thanks for hosting this linky and thanks for linking up with me!
ReplyDeleteGod bless my new friend
Tracy
Thanks Audra Maria! I am glad you enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteOh, I love that, Blue Cotton Memory!
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome, Tracy and thanks for joining me!
ReplyDeleteGreat way at re looking this story from the bible. Thanks for sharing on the NOBH
ReplyDeleteThanks Anna-Marie!
ReplyDeleteI just found your site last week, and look forward to following your blog in days ahead.
ReplyDeleteWhat an absolutely wonderful parallel! I missed linking up, but I'm hoping to this week!
ReplyDeleteGlad to have you join us!
ReplyDeleteSo blessed to hear that you enjoyed it, Kasey! I would love to have you link up with us.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
~jolene
Beautiful reminder of how we need to be to the one God has blessed us with even when we may not feel like it. Thank you and God bless your ministry, Jean
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