1 of 1

Key Bible Verse: Love does not demand its own way (1 Corinthians 13:5). Bonus Reading: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Imagine a newlywed couple is going to rent a movie for a date night. She says, "Let's rent an action-adventure movie with lots of things blowing up and plenty of car chases."

He responds, "But honey, you don't like action movies. Let's get a romantic movie. Maybe something set in Europe with all the characters having cool accents and wearing wonderful clothes."

"No, no, I insist," she presses. "We must get an action movie. Something with Arnold Schwarzenegger, Keanu Reeves, or Will Smith would be perfect."

In exasperation, he finally says, "Darling, I want to see a movie you'd enjoy. It's Renée Zellweger, Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, or no one at all!"

And this freshly married couple has their first fight. Of course, this is a fictional conversation. But wouldn't it be wonderful if couples did serve each other by insisting on what the other wanted? When a couple decides to serve rather than be served, relationships become fun.

Remember that when God is above us, no act of service is beneath us. We need to commit to serve the people who live in our homes.

—Kevin Harney in Seismic Shifts

My Response: What new thing have I recently learned about my wife's preferences?

Thought to Apply: As long as more male passion goes into watching pro football on TV than into gently seducing the Mrs., and so long as she secretly yearns for a tenderness she no longer seems to attract, the American ship of marriage sails near dangerous rocks.—MICHAEL NOVAK

Adapted from Seismic Shifts (Zondervan, 2005) by permission.

Copyright © 2007 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine. Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.

 1 of 1

share this page

Prayer for the Week

Lord, may my love for You and for my mate drive me to replace self-centeredness with attentiveness, thoughtfulness, and serving.

				Try an Issue of Men of Integrity Free! Name Street Address City/State/Zip E-mail Address No credit card required. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only. Click here for International orders. If you decide you want to keep Men of Integrity coming, honor your invoice for just $19.95 and receive five more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The trial issue is yours to keep, regardless. Give Men of Integrity as a gift Buy 1 gift subscription, get 1 FREE!

FREE Newsletter Sign up for the Men of Integrity Newsletter (All fields required)    RSS Feed   RSS Help