Duties of husbands and wives

*1 Corinthians 7:3-5 ~ Duties of husbands and wives* 

3. Ki ọkọ ki o mã ṣe ohun ti o yẹ si aya: bẹ̃ gẹgẹ si li aya pẹlu si ọkọ. 4. Aya kò li agbara lori ara rẹ̀, bikoṣe ọkọ: bẹ̃ gẹgẹ li ọkọ pẹlu kò si li agbara lori ara rẹ̀, bikoṣe aya. 5. Ẹ máṣe fà sẹhin kuro lọdọ ara nyin, bikoṣe nipa ifimọṣọkan, ki ẹnyin ki o le fi ara nyin fun àwẹ ati adura; ki ẹnyin ki o si tún jùmọ pade, ki Satani ki o máṣe dán nyin wò nitori aimaraduro nyin.

(Yoruba language )

3. The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4. The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. 5. Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

(English language )

Many people marry for selfish reasons, then after their marriage, they continue to live in a selfish manner. They may like each other very much, but it is not real love. They feel happy because of their marriage, but that is just their emotions. By their marriage, they are trying to get things; not to give.

That is not how God wants marriage to be. At a Christian marriage, a man and woman give themselves to each other. They accept duties towards each other. They agree not to be selfish, but to look after each other. They promise to give their time, money and energy to each other for that purpose, and for their children.

A Christian husband and wife should love God even more than they love each other. Because of their marriage, they are not free to do whatever they want. Their time belongs to each other, and to their family.

But sometimes the Christian man or his wife may desire time alone with God, perhaps for a few weeks. If they both agree, then it is right for them to separate for that period. And at the end, they should return to each other.