1 Corinthians 13:4-8a, 11   ⁴Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.⁸ Love never fails…. ¹¹ When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me…

After two days of a stomach bug I’m a little grumpy so I may come off a little bit harsh. However, I come across FAR TOO MANY married 20-40 something year old men who have a wife and kids BUT have not yet put away childish attitudes, selfishness and insensitivity.

Here are 10 ways to spot them ….

1. His wife has to “drag him to church” (verse 5) – so much for spiritual leadership.
2. He gripes that “she does not trust me” because she wants passwords, access to phone and text messages and accountability on the computer. (Verse 6) By the way, she should not have to ask and if he won’t give her these then she has good reason to doubt his motives.
3. She makes him get a job and keep it.(verse 5)  How rude!
4. He complains about how hard he works (when in reality he is a “lazy butt”!….from the Greek “lazibutticus) as an excuse for “sluffing off” his responsibilities at home. (Verse 5) –  “I work all day and come home to ….waa waa waa….  Oh brother!
5. He sees getting a “new truck” as a NEED and a dishwasher, sofa or indoor plumbing as “WANT”…seriously?
6. He gets mad that she tries to “control me”. (verse 5) – he is so sensitive to any correction that even the thought that he might be even a little “tensy-weensy” bit wrong offends him…sheesh!
7. He thinks “pornography” is a no-harm-no-foul sin.(verse 6)  – it is killing him
8. He expects a “pat on the back” for providing “food, clothing and shelter” for his family.(verse 7) all the while ignoring their spiritual and emotional needs.  (never mind the trophy he wants for emptying the dishwasher, wiping the seat or picking up his underwear)
9. He loves his kids more than his wife…and himself more than his kids.(verse 11)  (in truth he loves how his family makes him look. As soon as they stop making him look good he is gone)
10. He holds a grudge against his wife and even his kids for how they treat him.  “I deserve more respect” (Verse 5) – to that I say – “EARN IT!”

Verse 11 tells men to put away childish things and embrace the previous verses. We must love our wives with patience, gentleness, protection, forgiveness, truth, humility, trust, hope, etc…

As a man “on this journey I know it is a tough to follow but …that is why God tells us to start on it as young men!

I’LL BE  LOT NICER TOMORROW! HA!