Gtcotr/ws041818
We
simply do not know how God feels about some things. For example: Is God pro
Dallas Cowboys or does He prefer Pepsi to Coca-Cola or any number of opinion
driven concerns.
We don’t know what we don’t know but we do know what we do know. God has not left
us without witness or without instructions for the greater things of life. And,
when it comes to building better marriages, God’s Word is the most valuable
instruction book in the universe.
God
knows marriage. He invented it; created it; instigated it; formed it;
sanctioned it; thought it up; or whatever you wish to call it, first. Marriage
only exist because God saw it was best from the beginning. The original
marriage is a pattern God intended to give us to follow.
Marriage
cannot be relegated to the political or opinion driven arenas. We see a lot of
opinions dominating the news from time to time which oppose the original
pattern of marriage however, God has not given us any indication that He has
changed His mind about this union. Without getting bogged down in the defense
of marriage, allow me to set the stage concerning this covenant as we see and
understand it through the eyes of God.
First
and foremost, we understand that God is pro-marriage. The Bible is clear that
not every person will or should be married. However, God’s general intent for
man and woman is that they be married, have children, teach them to follow the
Lord and continue to populate the earth.
God
hates when a marriage ends in divorce. He hates to see a covenant destroyed and
relationships end because of the hurt and pain it adds to so many lives. God
knows how it feels since He has been divorced twice Himself. God counts Himself
as a divorcee Who had to put His wife away because of her adulterous affairs.
He can empathize with anyone who has experienced failed covenants.
Perhaps
this is the main reason why God has given so much attention to and such clear
instructions to help His children build better marriages.
Let’s
look at the top 7 pillars from God’s Word which will provide strength for your
marriage. Remember, these are things you can use to work on yourself or things
which you and your spouse can work on together. These are not things which
solely apply to your spouse or things about which you are supposed to judge or
criticize your spouse.
1. A Personal Commitment to God and His Word.
a. God’s Word should
always have final say in your life.
b. Always listen to,
support and submit to the whole counsel of the Bible.
Joshua 1:8 This Book of the
Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and
night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For
then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
c.
We all need someone in our marriage who can correct us when we
need it. With no one to straighten us out, we often fall prey to emotional
issues, opinion driven arguments, fears & feelings.
2. A Personal Commitment to Covenant
a. God puts people
together in a relationship first for what they can give, not for what they can
get.
b. Covenant means “your
good at my expense”.
c. You can’t stop
obeying the Word of God just because someone else does.
Matthew 19:6 “So then, they
are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let
not man separate.”
3. A Personal Commitment to the Roles, Rules,
Rights and Responsibilities of Marriage.
Ephesians 5
32 This is a great mystery,
but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
33 Nevertheless let each one
of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see
that she respects her husband.
a. Roles – We are
different … Ephesians 5:22-33
b. Rules – 1 Peter
3:1-7
i. Won without the Word
– beholding the attitude and behavior (of the spouse)
ii. Dwell with
understanding as heirs together …
c. Rights – 1
Corinthians 7:1-5
i. Over her/his body
ii. Inheritance/Assets
(God is a common law God …)
d. Responsibilities –
Primary God-given …
i. Provider – 1 Timothy
5:8
ii. Homemaker – Titus
2:3-5
4. Communication – The message sent is the
message received.
a.
Seek to understand before you seek to be understood …
James 1:19 So then, my
beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to get
angry.
5. Forgiveness
Ephesians 4:32 And be kind to
one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ
forgave you.
6. Money
a. It’s not how much
you make but how you spend what you make that matters.
b. Disagreements can
divide and destroy relationships
c. Discuss and Decide
on a Spending Plan
Proverbs 3:9 Honor the LORD
with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase;
7. Family and Friends
a. Leave and cleave –
Genesis 2:24
b. Honor and respect –
Ephesians 6:2
c. Establish friendship
boundaries – 1 Corinthians 15:33
d. Protect family time
Proverbs 27:17 As iron
sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
