Ephesians 5:33
Holman Christian
Standard Bible (HCSB)
33 To sum up, each one of
you is to love his wife as himself
Alice[i]
once told me this about her pastor father. He had a cupboard near the ceiling
in his house. It was locked and he carried the only key on his person at all
times. Whenever he ate bread, he would go to the cupboard, unlock it, take out
a jar of jam, and spread his slice of bread generously with his jam. Then he
would take the jar and lock it up again. Neither his wife nor children ever got
any of Father’s jam.
I still remember the sense of shock I felt over the father’s
callous selfishness. How could a minister of the gospel read Ephesians 5:33 and
not apply it in such an obvious case as allowing himself to savor the sweet jam
and not allow his wife to enjoy the same delight?
A decade or more later, our family visited Plimoth
Plantation south of Boston in Massachusetts. The historic village illustrates
life in 1627. Each person employed at the plantation represents one of the
villagers of so long ago. He or she has studied everything there is to know about
that particular pilgrim. Like actors, they try to never step out of character.
If you have never visited there, you owe it to yourself to see how our
ancestors lived.
We walked into a house where a man was sitting and carving
on a piece of wood. I asked him what he was making, and he replied, “A spoon.
Do you have a spoon?”
I laughed and answered, “Yes.”
“Does your wife have a spoon?” he asked.
Catching the spirit of the times, I replied with a knowing
grin, “No!”
“Neither does mine. She and the children eat their food with
their fingers.” He vouchsafed.
I gained an insight into how, in the past, such commonplace
necessities as spoons were not readily available, and often the women and
children went without, even though the husband might have one. They represented
my ancestors. No wonder Paul had to encourage believers, like me, to practice
the equality each person deserves under the grace of Christ.
Thank You, Lord, for
elevating us all to the same level: Your brothers and sisters.
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