One Unit

Yesterday I talked about how man has been created in the image of God. Four truths we learned are as follows: 1) We are His Representatives, 2) We are to Fulfill our Roles and Functions, 3) We are to Reproduce Worshippers, 4) We are to fulfill our Responsibility to Oversee God's Created Order. I would like to this morning touch up on some stuff about marriage and fulfilling our roles and functions. Again, we need to begin to build our understandings and beliefs based on truth and not solely on experience. It is important as believers to do this.

In our culture the trend is that the majority of people enter into marriage around the age of 28. Let us think about this. If someone is married at 28 then they have have graduated high school, probably graduated college, or have begun a career. They are completely independent. When they get married they both bring that independent lifestyle in the marriage. Even though they are married they still live as if there are two separate train tracks as opposed to the one that Scripture teaches happens when a couple is married.

Not only do independent lifestyles hinder marriages from becoming all that God wants them to be, but a materialistic lifestyle hinders them as well. If a couple wants a more luxurious lifestyle with the newest cars, a nice house in a nice neighborhood, a boat, a private school, or nice clothes, etc, then many times both parents will have to work in order to afford all of their stuff. Therefore, the lifestyle drives the marriage and dictates what the couple must do, as opposed to the word of God dictating what a couple must do. If the couple does not work extremely hard (sacrificing and exerting energy) at their marriage at some point it might collapse. It might collapse because both are too tired for sex because of work, dinner, kids, taking out the dog, and homework. If this continues then one or the other will begin to look for it elsewhere. It might collapse because they live such busy lives and never find the time to be with one another. As I pointed out yesterday, if a woman is going to work outside the home, then there will have to be sacrifices on both the husband and the wife. Because, it is not fair for woman to have to go to work and then come home and do laundry, cook, take care of the kids, and then take care of the husbands needs. So there will have to be mutual involvement.

The question we need to begin to ask is how can we fulfill God's order and function for marriage in the 21st Century. God's word, although old, is not outdated! It still works. Truth is truth no matter how old it is. Marriage is a lot of Work! You have heard it said that it takes two to make it work. Well, let me add a third. It takes three to make it work. It takes first of all God and His word, then it takes both the man and the woman. So what can we do today that will help make our marriages and families stronger:

1) Love God first and make sure you have a growing relationship with Him

2) Love each other unconditionally and selflessly. Give you ear. Give gifts. Give affection.

3) Spend time with one another, alone, apart from kids and others

4) Have a healthy Sex Life

5) Worship Together. Talk about Spiritual things. Attend church together

6) Fulfill your roles and function. And if need be share them.

7) Treat each other with dignity and respect, as equals. Talk out opinions, don't yell them.

8) Make sure your priorities as a couple and a family are right. This will be a guide to your family that will help you make wise decisions and help you say no to some things.