If I were to ask you, “What is the opposite of love”? You would probably say, “Hate”.  Most people think of love and hate being the extreme opposites.  However, in listening to couples whose marriages are coming apart at the seams I am convinced the opposite of love is indifference.  Love and hate are intense feelings and emotions.  Indifference, however, is a suspended state of all feelings. It neither loves nor hates. This says to the other spouse, “I could care less if you fell off the face of the earth” as one hurting husband shared with me.

Whether you call it indifference, or apathy these tepid responses to a spouse are an unspoken statement the marriage is in deep trouble.  The antidote for this poison is care. When you care for your spouse you are concerned about every area of their life for as long as you both shall live. The excitement of the heart pounding love of the dating days and the intensity of emotions of the engagement days will not be sufficient to carry you through the weathered years of marriage. Care transcends feelings which are based on emotions and stands firm in the face of any and all forces which would seek to undermine your marriage. 

After reading together, Song of Solomon 8:6-7, and Ephesians 5:29,  ask your spouse how you  both can guard your marriage from falling into the trap of mediocrity and indifference.