For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church. (Eph. 5:29)

Cherish means something like “to value highly.” We cherish things we consider precious and special to us. Guys cherish different things: their car or bike, an autograph or a signed picture of their favorite player, their father, brother, or best friend. Whatever we cherish, we take great care of and spend time with.

When Krista and I were first married, I worked at a music retail store. My primary responsibility was the acoustic guitar section. One guitar, a Guild, captured my attention. I tuned and cleaned that guitar every day for hours. It was one of the sweetest sounding instruments I had ever heard. My affection for it grew to the point that I wouldn’t show it to customers for fear they might buy it. One day, the owner of the store told me that he was dropping the Guild line. All the guitars were to be packed up for shipping away. That night, I took Krista out to dinner and told her the devastating news. But, I had a plan. I would buy the guitar. Even with my significant employee’s discount, it stretched our budget. Nevertheless, with Krista’s support, I bought it.

Over the next several years, very few hands touched that guitar. I polished it frequently, kept it well-strung and tuned, washed my hands thoroughly before playing it, and required the few others who played it to do the same. And no one was to hold it wearing a belt-buckle which might scratch its pristine finish. When I wasn’t playing it, it lived securely and comfortably in a hardshell case stored safely out of harm’s way. The high value I placed upon that guitar was demonstrated by my obsessive actions.

This is akin to how husbands should view their wives. Not that she should be encased and stored away in a safe place, but the time, care, attention, and protection should be evident. A wife should be convinced that she is the single most important possession (so to speak) that a husband owns.

Husband, your wife should feel like your most prized treasure, so adored that no thing and no one else even comes close. More than your time, pet, friends, car, books, hobbies, family, goals, job, guitars(!); more than everything, she is your preoccupation.

 

1. Define cherish.
2. How does Christ cherish the Church?
3. Wife, what does your husband cherish? What does he place a high value upon? How does it show?
4. Husband, what makes your wife feel cherished and special? Wife, is he right?