Ephesians 5:15-5:33 (NASB)
15 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, 16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil. 17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; 21 and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.
22 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.
28 So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; 29 for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, 30 because we are members of His body.
31 For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. 32 This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.
33 Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.
Components Of Love
Passion For The Church
In 1998 Psychologist R.J. Sternberg concluded a study concerning three aspects of LOVE. He referred to this as the Triangular Theory Of Love. This theory holds that within the realm of interpersonal relationships there are three components of love: INTIMACY, PASSION, and COMMITMENT. The amount of love that one experiences depends upon the strength of these three components. The type of love that you experience also depends upon the relative strength of each of these components as they relate to one another.
The three components of Love identified by Sternberg:
1. INTIMACY – feelings of attachment
2. COMMITMENT – subordination of the will
3. PASSION – a drive to connect emotionally
How does this relate to our text?
1. Be Careful - Take each step with intent
2. Don’t be Foolish - Make decisions that are value based
3. Be Spirit Filled - Invest your emotions into your actions
THE CHURCH IS WORTHY OF YOUR DEEPEST LEVEL OF LOVE:
WHY?
1. The Church is the CONSCIENCE of creation.
2. The Church has COMPASSION for creation.
3. The Church has a COMMITMENT to protect creation.
When we love the church it should change the way that we interact within the Church, it should change the way that we participate; it should change our motives, and change our priorities.
“I believe that there are too many practitioners in the Church who are not believers.” - C.S. Lewis -
