2. THE DANGER OF WORSHIPPING YOUR SPOUSE

This topic has been on my mind for several months since 2020 and although I meditated on some scriptures on the issue, I kept putting off writing on it. Today though, I decided to finally write on the subject.

Ladies, whether you’re been married for a number of years, a few years, just recently said your vows or are about to walk down the aisle to become a Mrs. to the man that you dearly love, there is one thing that you should keep at the very fore of your mind and NEVER forget it. That is, if you are a Christian and believe that God has gifted you with your spouse, you must remember that God gave you a spouse to love, not to worship.

There is a temptation I think on the part of spouses, to go beyond what God intended for love relationships and to worship one’s spouse. This is sin, as, while all of your attention and devotion to your significant other may seem cute, it is bordering dangerously on idolatry, something that God hates.

It is something that married people (both men and women) need to guard against therefore. You may start out well and be well-meaning but you should keep examining yourself and your relationship, to determine if you are conducting yourself in a manner, where you are worshipping and idolizing that person.

I’m sure that your spouse or spouse to be is great or else you wouldn’t be with that person but remember, that that person is flawed like everybody else. He comes with good, bad and ugly ways like everybody else and even if he is very spiritually mature, he sins from time to time. You ought not therefore to see this person as perfect, someone that can do no wrong and elevate him to the status of a god.

There are two ends of the love spectrum which are dysfunctional.

Imagine a scale. Love is in the middle of the scale and that is the right balance you want to strike. We are to love our spouses fervently and I am all for passionate, ardent, strong love because the Bible encourages it. 

While love is in the middle, on the extreme left of the scale, there is what some people unfortunately experience in a marriage and in a relationship, namely, neglect, disrespect, taking one for granted, indifference and coldness. Relationships and marriages that border on this left extreme, give love a bad name because really, it is not love, no matter how many times a spouse may say the word with the lips.

This is not good and can definitely make a relationship and a marriage painful and underwhelming. It falls way beneath the standard that God expects of us when it comes to loving our spouses and being loved in return.

However, there is the tendency or should I say, the temptation, if we are not careful to check ourselves, to gravitate to the other extreme. On the extreme right side of the love scale is complete adoration, worship and idolization of the person. We see our spouse as a King and/or he sees us as a Queen. This too is not what healthy love should look like. For, while as God’s children, we are indeed royalty, our only claim to regality as daughters and sons of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords is because God adopted us as wretches into HIS royal family, upon us having faith in his Son the Lord Jesus Christ and surrendering our hearts and lives to his Lordship.

Keeping this truth in mind, it is important to remember that no man or woman, irrespective of who he or she is, no matter how beautiful, how kind, how giving, how talented, how gifted, how lovely or how admirable is worthy of our worship. We are to love one another but as human beings, no man or woman is to be worshipped. If it is done, it is a sin. For, this is reserved only for God the Father and God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. God alone is perfect and he alone is worthy to receive honour and glory.

In Revelation 4:2-11, John, in writing of God’s throne in heaven (which he saw in the Spirit) and of the worship of God that he witnessed, stated:

• “And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold…And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind… And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and CAST THEIR CROWNS BEFORE THE THRONE, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”

We ought to live life in the same way. We were created to worship God, not another human being. In a relationship or marriage therefore, we must cast our earthly crowns before HIS throne and not in the direction of our spouses or significant others.

God is all about his glory and he is not willing to share it with anyone else, not puny man, not a woman or any object. He stated in Isaiah 42:8 “I am the LORD: that is my name: and MY GLORY will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.”

In Exodus 34:14, Moses was careful to tell the Israelite people, “For thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God…“.

In Isaiah 43:7, God stated through his Prophet of every one that is called by his name, “…for I have created him for MY GLORY, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.”

It is because glory belongs to God and no one else, that 1 Corinthians 10:31 concludes, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to THE GLORY OF GOD.”

Whatever we do, should be for God’s glory, his praise and his honour, not our own or any other person. We must be careful therefore, not to worship any person or to accept worship from any person.

PRAISE v WORSHIP

It is important at this juncture, to differentiate between praising and worshipping. The husband of the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31 and their children, praised his wife publicly to other people. In short, out of appreciation and gratitude, he applauded her, her godly character and how much of a blessing she was to him, their children and to people, to other people.

Proverbs 31:28-31 states:

• “Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.“

Nothing is wrong therefore in giving honour where honour is due and it is certainly nice and commendable for a spouse to praise his wife publicly and vice versa, from time to time. However, it is wrong to worship that spouse which calls for complete adoration and reverence. Whereas praising one’s spouse is not of itself worship, giving too much praise may be a strong indicator that you are veering in the direction of worship.

Moderation is key. Ecclesiastes 3:1 lets us know that there is a time for everything. Philippians 4:5 also tells us “Let your moderation be known unto all men.”

Not because something is good and permissible, does it mean that we should abuse or overdo it. Eating is good and indeed necessary but it is wrong to be a glutton (Philippians 3:19; Proverbs 23:20-21; Proverbs 23:2).

In 1 Corinthians 6:12, Paul stated “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.”

In the same vein, praising a spouse or significant other with words or in our attitude and actions is good but if we overdo it, to the point where it becomes irritating to the ears and minds of others due to the frequency, we are bordering dangerously on sinning, by worshipping and idolizing that spouse or person.

In looking at the various definitions of worship available, I found the following:

• Worship is defined as reverence and adoration for a deity;
• Christian worship is both an attitude and action of granting God the adoration, reverence, and homage, that He is due. Furthermore, worship is the expression of God’s holiness, goodness, and power. Worship is also a way to express love for God;
• Worship means to bow down to God;
• Worship is to adore, idolize, esteem worthy, reverence, homage, etc. Yet truly defining worship proves more difficult because it is both an attitude and an act;
• Worship is the feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity;
• Worship is adoration or devotion comparable to religious homage, shown toward a person or principle;
• Worship is showing reverence and adoration for (a deity); honor with religious rites;
• Worship is to treat (someone or something) with the reverence and adoration appropriate to a deity.

Worship is therefore about showing reverence and adoration to whatever or whoever we consider to be God. Some people worship the wrong god who is no god at all but as Christians, we live to worship the true and living God of heaven, who is referred to in the Bible and whose Son is the Lord Jesus Christ.

In the Bible, there are instances where people desired to worship men of God but because those men of God knew that they were but sinful men and that this act was reserved for the true and living God only, they were quick to redirect the worship to God and away from themselves.

PETER refused to accept worship.

In Acts 10:19-26, when Peter was sent by the Spirit to Cornelius, when he arrived, Cornelius was so grateful that he had come and so in awe that a man of God who had knowledge of the truth and could help him was before him, that he mistakenly thought it was right to give Peter worship. However, knowing that as a mere man, he was not worthy of worship and that this honour was to be bestowed only to God, Peter was quick to discourage the practice.

The scripture states:

• “While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them. Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come? And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee. Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him. And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and he had called together his kinsmen and near friends. And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. BUT PETER TOOK HIM UP, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.”

PAUL AND BARNABAS also refused to accept worship.

In Acts 14:8-18, after Paul performed a miracle with the power given to him by God to do so, the people who witnessed it, elevated him and Barnabas in their minds, to the level of a god and set about to worship them with sacrifices. However, grieved with this idolatry (because that is what it was), Paul and Barnabas rent their clothes in sorrow and did not allow this folly to continue. Instead, they were quick to set the record straight, letting the people know that they were not worthy to be worshipped, an act that was reserved for God alone.

The scripture reads:

•  ^“And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked: The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.

• And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.

• Which WHEN THE APOSTLES, BARNABAS AND PAUL HEARD OF, THEY RENT THEIR CLOTHES, and ran in among the people, crying out, And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless, he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.”

Even God’s ANGELS understand their role as servants of God and refuse to accept worship from men.

In Revelation 22:8-9, John recounts:

• “And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.Then saith he unto me, SEE THOU DO IT NOT: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: WORSHIP GOD.”

JOSEPH also deprived himself of the opportunity to be worshipped.

He too demonstrated that worship is reserved for only God and not man. When he was finally taken out of prison, cleaned up and brought before Pharaoh, having the ability to decipher the meaning of dreams, he was the only one on earth that was able to tell Pharaoh what his dreams meant.

Pharaoh was so impressed that, in that moment, Joseph could have allowed himself to be filled with pride and take the glory for himself. He had every one where he wanted them, including king Pharaoh and he could have used that opportunity when all eyes were on him and everyone was in awe of his ability, to be worshipped.

Yet, Joseph took the humble route. Knowing himself to be but a man, he did not take the glory for himself but was quick to point it all to God.

In Genesis 41:14-16, it reads:

• “Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it. And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, IT IS NOT IN ME: GOD shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.”

Joseph therefore pointed the glory to God before the dream had even been told to him, careful to ensure from the get-go, that the attention and adoration would not be placed on himself. In similar fashion, he did the same thing when giving the interpretation, being careful to ensure that Pharaoh knew that it was God that would cause him to be able to decipher the dream. In doing this, Joseph did not try to elevate himself but took the humble route and in due course, God honoured him by elevating him, although for HIS purpose.

The Bible states:

• “And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: GOD hath shewed Pharaoh what HE is about to do. The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one. And the seven thin and ill favoured kine that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine. This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What GOD is about to do HE sheweth unto Pharaoh. Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt: And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land; And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous. And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by GOD, and GOD will shortly bring it to pass.”

In choosing to honour God over himself and his own interests, God in turn caused Pharaoh to promote Joseph, to the second in command over all of Egypt. Pharaoh, a secular king, got the message perfectly, that it was God that gave the dream to him and that it was God that gave the interpretation to Joseph and therefore, God, not a human being was glorified.

The Bible states in verses 37-40:

• “And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants. And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is? And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as GOD hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.”

Some Indicators That We Are Worshipping or Idolizing Our Spouse Or Significant Other

Whether we are married or single but hoping to one day be married, I would like to list seven (7) indicators that we can look for or use to examine ourselves, to see if we are worshipping or idolizing our spouse or significant other or veering dangerously close in that direction. We can also use it to determine if our spouse or significant other is worshipping or idolizing us or heading in that direction.

When it comes to both men and women, there are other indications I am sure but these seven (7) I consider to be major. They are as follows: –

1. We place the person on a pedestal too high for that of a mere human being and too close to the level of God;

2. We see the person as perfect or close to perfect. The person can do no wrong and when he or she does wrong or is in error, we blind our eyes to it or quickly excuse it. Even if we know the person is in error, instead of confronting him or her on the issue and standing for what is right and true, we join with the person in his or her folly and go along with his or her nonsensical behaviour, even if it means to turn against someone that he or she has turned against wrongfully or to be upset with anyone who has caused him or her to be upset, even when that person did no wrong or the fault lies with our spouse;

3. We sing the praises of the person day and night or far too frequently, in our hearts and to other people;

4. We see the person as our life, cannot imagine life without him or her and think that we would prefer to die than to live without him or her;

5.  Because we see the person as so great and so special, we expect everybody to see the person in that same reverential light, even getting upset if they refuse to join us and bow down, as we have chosen to do. When people do not follow suit, object, disagree with anything that the person wants or wants to do or states or people refuse to tow that line that we have set for everyone to follow, we are baffled as to how they could see such greatness (as we consider ourselves as having the privilege of seeing) and not do similar obeisance. In short, our adoration and reverence for the person has grown dangerously to the point where, without us even realizing it, we expect the people around us to join with us in such adoration and reverence;

6. We become unreasonable and make unreasonable demands of everyone in relation to the person and expect everybody to treat the person like a King or Queen, even when this means to disrupt their schedule or to go out of their way or to not be true to who they are in terms of personality, likes, dislikes, etc. We expect everyone to jump high, stoop low or whatever is required to make things convenient for the person and without complaint, even when it is an inconvenience to everyone;

7. We lose ourselves by forgetting who we are and who we used to be, as we live to please the person, seeing nobody else in our life lens and thinking that nobody else matters but the person.

CONCLUSION

If we have a spouse that loves us to the point where we perceive that he is beginning to worship us, this is not something to be encouraged. For, if we stand in the way of a person worshipping God, then we are but a distraction, a hindrance and a stumbling block, to that person’s faith walk with Jesus.

Jesus accepted worship and still does because he is God. On the other hand, we are merely human beings with flaws, sinners (no matter how nice we may be) and are not worthy of such adoration from any man. We must therefore nip that issue in the bud and have a conversation with our spouse or significant other and pray to God about it. We want to be loved fervently, passionately and selflessly yes (who doesn’t?) but we do not want to be worshipped and ought not to encourage or permit this under any circumstance because worship belongs to God.

If we see ourselves veering in the direction of worshipping and adoring our spouse, thereby putting that person on a pedestal and elevating him to a level that is equivalent with God, we must repent of this sin before God. Conversely, if we see our spouse or fiancé or boyfriend veering in that direction, by showering us with complete you-can-do-no-wrong adoration, we must expose it for what it is and let him know from early on, that this is not acceptable because it takes away from God’s glory.

We are here to point the glory to God the Father and his Son the Lord Jesus Christ, not to take any of it for ourselves. This should be also true in relationships and marriage.

By all means, our husbands and boyfriends should have high regard for us, hold us in high esteem, treat us with respect, dignity and appreciate our value. However, a husband must remember that we are human beings just like he is, on the same level and prone to doing that which is wrong sometimes. He must remember that, as much as he loves us and is impressed with us, our best works are still as filthy rags in God’s sight and had it not been for God’s grace, we would have never been good enough for heaven.

In short, it is important that he relate to us on the same level that he is on, which is that we are both human beings. The problem begins when he begins to see us as high and lifted up and to think in his heart, that at the very minimum, we should sit on the clouds and everyone should treat us in this way.

Nothing is wrong also if he sings our praises to others from time to time but this must be done in moderation. He must know, that as much as he loves us, we are not perfect and therefore, we must wholly reject complete adoration.

There are times when, for our good and out of love, he needs to let us know that we are wrong on something, to put us respectfully and lovingly but firmly in our place (Job of the Bible is a case in point) or to tell us that he is not pleased with something that we did. He is mandated by God (and he ought never to forget it), to stand on the side of truth, even when this means to stand against us because truth is more important than showing us blind support and allegiance. He is entitled even, to get angry at us on occasions or to be annoyed with some of our behaviours. After all, we are not perfect and we ought not to allow him, to delude himself in continuing to think that we are. Blind obeisance and deference to us is an ugly mentality and attitude that we do not ever want to cultivate.

Similarly, when the Bible states in Ephesians 5:33, that a wife is to “…see that she reverence her husband”, the word “reverence” there does not mean worship and bown down to him, as one would God. It means that she is to see to it that she shows her husband due honour and respect as the leader of the home and of her and that she treat him with dignity.

The long and short of it all is this: Marriage is a gift from God. We are SERVANTS of God and as a by-product of such a role, we have been placed in a marriage to serve our spouse AS UNTO God and in a way acceptable to God. We are not placed in a marriage to worship our spouse AS God or to accept worship from our spouse AS God.

Even as it is a sin to worship our spouse, it is equally a sin to accept worship of our spouse.

We must therefore ask the Lord if we are in a marriage, about to enter one or still hoping (like me) to enter one, that he would help us to love our husbands dearly but to not fall into the trap (which can be subtle), of adoring and esteeming him so highly, that he begins to share or take the place of God in our hearts and lives. Similarly, we must be on our guard to ensure that we do not accept worship from our spouse and that we discourage the very thought, if we realize that he is heading in that direction.

(Written on 24^th March, 2021, added to on 19th December, 2021)

ADDENDUM

Throughout scripture, it is clear, that one of the main weaknesses of men is women. Women have brought down great men in the Bible, like Samson, caused great men to backslide, like Solomon and were the impetus for some to fall and commit grievous sins, like David.

In all fairness, there are examples of women in the Bible giving good advice and words of wisdom to their husbands or those they were around, like the Shunnamite woman, who told her husband what she had perceived about Elisha the Prophet and that they should build a room for him to lodge when he passed by.

There was Pilate’s wife, who, although a heathen woman, also gave him good counsel, to have nothing to do with the crucifixion of Jesus, who she perceived was a just man. This was good advice but he did not take it.

Finally, there was also Abigail, who, while being married to Nabal, gave David wise counsel and was reputed in the Bible to be a woman of good understanding.

However, sad to say, there are women who gave bad advice or caused their husbands to take the wrong path and to do wickedly.

Sarai for example, gave Abram bad advice that was based on faithlessness and desperation, which he listened and gave in to, resulting in him marrying and impregnating Sarai’s made Hagar.

Jezebel intensified the wickedness of Ahab, him allowing her to usurp his authority and to do wickedly as she pleased, whether God was pleased or not.

Job’s wife gave him really bad advice after he had lost everything, including all of his wealth, children and health. Most likely grieved herself by all their loss, especially of their children, she told him to curse God and die. Thankfully, Job’s desire to please his God took precedence over everything else, including his wife and even his own self-comfort. He did not heed her advice therefore but rebuked her, as was fitting.

These examples in the Bible though and what I have observed even today, demonstrate that although men are clearly to be leaders in the home, one of the important roles that a woman in a marriage plays is that of adviser to her husband.

If a man of God makes the wrong choice and marries a woman that is not wise therefore, that woman will most likely give him bad advice or counsel, tempt him to go astray, down the path of error and to fall out of favour with God.

Hence the reason that Proverbs 19:14 tells us that “…a prudent wife is from the Lord.” If a woman is not prudent (meaning wise) therefore, then she is not from the Lord. If a man of God picks her to be his wife, he has been led away of his own lust and deceived. God did not choose her for him.

God gives good and perfect gifts and since the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, a prudent wife, which God sends, fears God. She is godly in her actions, her words and her dress. She believes and embraces truth as found in God’s Word the Bible, which she knows is the ultimate authority on all matters. The counsel she gives her husband is therefore wise counsel because it is derived and fueled from God’s Word.

Given that women have always been one of the main weaknesses of men, if a man of God is not careful, his love, devotion and commitment to his wife, could lead him to put her first, even before God, him even being prepared to abandon what he KNOWS is right, true and just and instead embrace a lie or error, so as to do what his wife wants or what will please her.

By this, I mean that such a man may know what God has said and what God wants to be done and yet chooses another path and therefore to disobey God because it will please his wife. This is the grave error that Adam made in the garden of Eden and he paid for it. The Bible states that when his wife gave him of the forbidden fruit to eat, he was not deceived. He knew full well what God had said, understood what it meant and therefore knew what the right thing to do was. Yet, maybe due to the extent of his love, devotion and commitment to his wife, he could not bear to not please her and so, chose to do what she wanted. After all, she was the love of his life!

Yet, while she would have been pleased with his actions, God was not. He was still culpable before God and God held him, as the leader of the home, to account. This lets us know, that, in a marriage relationship, no matter how much a man loves his wife, God expects him to lovingly rebuke her when she is on the wrong path or wants him to do something that is wrong, not go along with it.

He expects husbands to lead their homes aright (1 Timothy 3:5) and not simply give in to all of the demands of the wife or go along with what pleases her because he loves her so.

To give in to whatever the wife wants and to see everything from her perspective is bound to result in neglect of his duties as the leader of the home, as a wife will not always be right, especially if she lacks prudence or is not spiritually mature, even as a Christian. His God-given role is not to please and appease her at all times but to lead his home aright and pleasing in the sight of almighty God.

Sometimes a wife will be wrong and a good husband ought not to turn a blind eye to this but to let her know this and stand on the side of truth, always, even if she will be displeased.

God, who is a God of truth is a jealous God and when we put any person, even a spouse, before him and are prepared to sacrifice his will so that the spouse’s will can be done, he does not take this issue lightly.

As stated before, this is something I have realized affects men especially but women are not exempt.

It is always to be Jesus first, what God has said or wants us to do first and our significant other after.

As women, we must not be so careful as to not offend our husbands or so eager to please that spouse, that we are prepared to turn our backs on what we KNOW is true. We do not lead the home as women but God will still hold us accountable when we choose to disobey his Word.

No amount of love for a spouse therefore, should cause us to elevate that spouse to a position higher than what is right, true and just. We must never put the one we love before God and never turn our back on his way, his will and what we KNOW his Word says, so as to appease or please that spouse.

If we do this (and deep down in our hearts we will know that that is what we are doing), we can be sure that God is not pleased and when God is not pleased with us because the spouse he has allowed us to have becomes an idol, he intervenes and sometimes, not in a pleasant manner.

If Adam knew what was the right thing to do, then why did he give in to Eve? Why did he decide that it was more important to please her over God? He embraced a lie and let go of the truth for the sake of his beloved wife. While he seems to have done what he did in the name of love, this kind of love, that makes a man, as the leader of the family unit, keep his silence and go along with wrong, is not commendable. For, it is idolatrous love.

Think about it: Him not being deceived, he was prepared to sacrifice pleasing God, his Creator, to please a mere creation, his wife. Yet all the love he had for her was not enough to prevent him from being punished for his disobedience, when God was ready to intervene.

(Addendum written on 25th November, 2021)

Dear Reader, if you found the above Article to be interesting, informative or edifying, you may also be interested in reading the following:

Under the ‘SINGLE Daughters of God’ Page:

• Note 9 – ‘Tidbits God Deposited Into My Spirit As A Single Woman’
• Note 11 – ‘A God-approved Marriage Union – A Work Of Grace’
• Note 19 – ‘You Are Not Perfect – Can He Handle That?’
• Note 134 – ‘The Manipulative Woman’

Under the ‘BROKEN Daughters of God’ Page:

• Note 10 – ‘How God Wants Us To Treat With Our Idols’

Under ‘COURTING OR ENGAGED Daughters of God’ Page:

• Note 15 – ‘Does He Love You Fervently?’
• Note 27 – ‘Why I Want To Praise Jesus Alone On My Wedding Day’
• Note 31 – ‘What Is Romantic Love’
• Note 33 – ‘How Much Should He Love Me?’