Read Matthew 5:27-32

As a father of two daughters and grandfather of five granddaughters, I now see the world from a different perspective – the female perspective. I am still learning how to brush long hair and how to put a dress on a little girl. I may never learn it properly.

I have learned that women like to be treated with respect. Some are taught by movies and others to treat those of the opposite sex like they are objects.

Isn’t that what Jesus was talking about when He said, “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart”? By lusting after someone who isn’t your spouse, we are treating people as objects.

“Chesed” (Hebrew for love) means affection, action and commitment in English. That is a definition of love – just the opposite of lust. Look for opportunities to love other people with affection, with action and with commitment.

Affection: Words of affirmation, quality time and physical touch are examples from the book The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman. This is a book every engaged or married person should read.

Action: A man can demonstrate respect for a woman in many ways, including patient listening, helping with daily tasks, being careful with his tone and being selfless. It is an attitude and actions demonstrate it.

 Commitment: In football, there is an “unsportsmanlike conduct” penalty and in basketball, a “technical foul” players can receive. In both sports, a second foul may be disqualification. In life, if you commit the foul of adultery, you will disqualify trust. And that is a big mistake.

When someone poisons their mind with immoral things of any kind of movies, magazines, websites or immoral discussions, it can infect their thinking. Could this pollute their view of the opposite sex?

What do you fill your mind with?

“It’s the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the strings.”

(Casting Crowns)

Honor others. The life of Jesus is full of evidence of Jesus showing honor to women. Godly women stand out in Jesus’ life and ministry. Examples would be Mary, the mother of Jesus, the woman at the well, and the women who accompanied the disciples on missionary trips. It was women who stayed at the cross until the burial and who were first at the empty tomb.

Jesus’ respect for females is obvious and it is awesome. The sermon on the mount is Christ’s instruction to us for godly living in the present world. This includes honor, courtesy and respect for others. Love includes affection, action and commitment. Let’s make it our focus and make it a habit.

What do your actions, affection and commitment convey about the type of relationship you are willing to work for?

Tom Weckesser