Nagging With Love

Speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into Him who is the head—Christ.

Ephesians 4:15, HCSB

RESEARCH OVER THE PAST 150 YEARS has shown that married men tend to enjoy better health and live longer than their single, divorced, or widowed peers. A good, loving marriage also helps to decrease stress and to alleviate loneliness and depression. One possible reason for why married men live longer is the “nagging” of their wives. Many men, once they hit their forties and fifties, don’t exercise as much. They don’t eat the way they should either. In such cases, being nagged by your wife can be good for your health.

Is it fun to be nagged? No. Is nagging good for us? It can be. We may not like it, but it can help us do what we should already be doing. Many men get in the habit of tuning out their wives’ observations, but that’s not the best response. Oftentimes, our wives nag us because they love us. And one way she may be speaking truth to you is by encouraging you to become more like Christ (Ephesians 4:15).

Research shows that nearly 70 percent of men rely on their wives as their primary social support. So if you’re married, the main person who speaks into your life is probably your wife. The next time you feel nagged, look for the truth in her words. Sometimes we need to be reminded to do the right thing. Sometimes, the godly wife who loves you is trying to speak the truth into your life.

BOTTOM LINE

Instead of being annoyed by your wife’s “nagging,” look for what you can learn from it. It may help you become more like Jesus.

Moment of Strength: Ephesians 4:29