‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ Genesis 2:24(NLT)
‘“And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.’ Matthew 7:3-5(NLT)
‘“If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.’ Matthew 18:15-17(NLT)
‘And he said, “‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’’ Matthew 19:5(NLT)
‘Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord . Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.” Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.’ Romans 12:17-21(NLT)
‘Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. ‘ Galatians 6:1(NLT)
‘My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back from wandering will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.’ James 5:19-20(NLT)
‘In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over by observing your pure and reverent lives.’ 1 Peter 3:1-2(NLT)
While all Christians need to be careful with the companionships they allow in their lives, married Christian couples must be twice as careful. Your marriage is the primary human relationship that you have on this earth. The Bible even tells us that we need to leave our parents and family of origin when we get married. We need to cling to our spouse and become one with that person. This leaving not only applies to our biological families, but it also applies to our friendships. Marriage affects every relationship that we have in our lives.
Once you get married, you are no longer single. This means that you do not have the time that you used to have to devote to your former relationships. Now, you have to devote your time, effort, and focus on your new married responsibilities. This can be especially difficult for men. Men tend to cling to ungodly relationships even when they are married. However, they need to form a bond with their wife.
Many times, Christian wives wonder if they are allowed to address ungodly friendships in their husbands’ lives and still remain submissive and honoring them. The answer is: absolutely yes! The Bible tells us that we are our brother’s keeper. We have an obligation to raise our concerns if a Christian brother or sister is headed in any direction that is dangerous to their own soul. When that Christian is your spouse, the ungodly relationship can even endanger your home and your marriage. Therefore, it is a Christian wife’s responsibility to address such concerns. There is also a right way to do it.
If you find yourself in a difficult situation with your husband’s friendships, you can address the matter and still honor God. Approach your husband gently without compromising your role as his helper or usurping his role as a leader in the home. The Bible teaches wives how to behave when they have disobedient husbands. The Word of God encourages such women to set their focus first on their own demeanor and on their own attitude. They need to show full devotion and submission to God first. However, submission is not silence. Godly wives can present their concerns to their husbands in a respectful manner that reflects their desire to honor God. Every Christian man needs a wife who is strong in the Lord and is not afraid to address ungodly patterns that she observes in her husband’s behavior. A godly wife is a great gift and the greatest friend.
from Choosing Our Friends and Companions Wisely