Our sermon at church last Sunday was The Lord’s Name Is Jealous, taken from Exodus 34:8-17. Verse 14 reads “for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” (ESV)
We tend to think of jealousy as a bad thing, but God can’t be bad, so there’s a godly form of jealousy. This form of jealousy is like a guardrail, keeping us from going off the road and getting stuck or crashing down the side of a mountain.
Does/should this form of jealousy exist in marriages? I think the answer is yes. I think a couple does well to talk about reasonable boundaries that will prevent problems. But I’m not talking about boundaries set by one person’s fear or insecurity.
What those boundaries look like will depend on your situation and trust levels. For Lori and I, one of the big ones is sharing what we do, including when we have contact in person or by email with someone of the other sex. We also both tend to mention each other regularly in conversation. No one talks to me for long without hearing about my wife and about how wonderful I think she is.
Of course, no boundary will prevent willful cheating. If you aim your car at a guardrail at full speed you will go through. But if you drift off the road, the rail will keep you from real danger.
A post worth reading:
The Hero Husband Project | 3 Tips to Feel More Loved in Your Marriage ◄ All great things to do!
Photo by Naomi August on Unsplash
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