“The Second Most Important Relationship”
THE MOST IMPORTANT RELATIONSHIP IN MY LIFE SHOULD BE MY RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
THE SECOND MOST IMPORTANT RELATIONSHIP SHOULD BE MY RELATIONSHIP WITH MY SPOUSE.
- To have the best relationship with my spouse, I must put God first.
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- Not myself first
- Not my spouse first
- If I really care about my relationship with God, I should care about how God views marriage.
GOD SAYS THE TWO BECOME ONE.
14 “You cry out, “Why doesn’t the Lord accept my worship?” I’ll tell you why! Because the Lord witnessed the vows you and your wife made when you were young. But you have been unfaithful to her, though she remained your faithful partner, the wife of your marriage vows.
15 Didn’t the Lord make you one with your wife? In body and spirit you are his. And what does he want? Godly children from your union. So guard your heart; remain loyal to the wife of your youth. 16 “For I hate divorce!” says the Lord, the God of Israel. “To divorce your wife is to overwhelm her with cruelty,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “So guard your heart; do not be unfaithful to your wife.” Malachi 2:14-16 NLT
JESUS SAID THE SAME THING.
3 Some Pharisees came and tried to trap him with this question: “Should a man be allowed to divorce his wife for just any reason?” 4 “Haven’t you read the Scriptures?” Jesus replied. “They record that from the beginning ‘God made them male and female.’” 5 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.’ 6 Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.” Matthew 19:3-6 NLT
- Marriage is a covenant based on mutual commitment.
- Marriage is to be honored.
Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery. Hebrews 13:4 NLT
WHAT ARE SOME GOOD QUALITIES TO LOOK FOR IN A POTENTIAL SPOUSE? Loving, Joyful, Peaceful, Patient, Kind, Good, Faithful, Gentle, Self-Controlled
- These qualities are found only in someone with the Holy Spirit/ God at work in his or her life.
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Galatians 5:22-23 NLT
- If you’re single, you should be looking for someone who loves God.
- If you’re single, you should be looking for someone who loves you and is committed to you, not someone who needs you.
7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:7-9 NIV
YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW.
YOU REAP WHERE YOU SOW.
- Where are you investing everything?
Some ways to invest in your marriage:
- Pray for one another.
- Pray with one another.
- Worship God together.
- Serve together.
- Serve one another.
8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. 9 Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor. James 4:8-10 NLT
A HEALTHY, SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE MUST BE COMMITTED TO A CHRIST-CENTERED RELATIONSHIP FIRST.
Next steps for me today…
- I want to have a real relationship with God by putting my faith in what Jesus has done for me.
- I need to sow what I want to reap.
- I need to invest my time, my focus, and my best into my marriage.
