"...It is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom." Luke 12:32
I've got a story for you. This fella, after 10 years of marriage, took his bride to Maui, bought her the wedding dress of her dreams, a new wedding ring, and got the country's top wedding photographer to capture it all as they renewed their love. He lavished gifts upon his queen. Here's the link if you care to read: http://www.jasminestarblog.com/index.cfm
Often I've asked God, "Father, what can I do to better serve you today?" And just about every time He pointed directly to Rachel, "Lavish love upon My daughter, your Queen." He has put it in my heart that she will always be my "New Bride". I was convicted recently in my Christmas gifts to Rachel. With every purchase I thought of what that gift would take from me - new home, supper, retirement, you name it. I felt like the north end of a southbound jackass.
As husbands we are directed to love our wives as Christ loved the church, giving Himself for her (Eph 5:25). It was the Father's good will to give me the Kingdom. He also gave me His daughter, and I will make it my tireless quest to give all of my kingdom to my wife, my Queen. We live in a culture where savings accounts, budgets, and retirement are more important than giving. And we call it wisdom!! Good stewardship!!! Meanwhile, marriage fires dwindle because more wood is added to our worldly investments than our wives.
And it's not about money. The issue of money just seems to be the thing that restrains giving of ourselves entirely. It's about giving all of myself to her as Christ gave all of Himself to me. I'm not saying to abandon wise investment choices - those affect her too. But when my wife looks back at life with me, will she say, "He invested wisely", or, "He treated me like Royalty"? I hope for the 2nd.
I hope for the 2nd too, but I doubt my wife would agree at this time. God has provided for us abundantly and I've certainly invested wisely for my wife and family; however, I seldom lavish her with the finer things that would make her feel like royalty. Pray that I begin to treat my wife, my queen, like royalty by the words that I speak to her and the gifts that I lavish her with each day.
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