The Absolute Best Thing You Can Do For Your Kids
The absolute best thing you can do for your kids is to have a great marriage.
This is more important than all the latest parenting techniques, trends, and popular advice that are so abundantly forced upon young parents in today’s culture.
A strong, healthy, Christ centered marriage is the foundation of a godly home where children can be brought up in health, wholeness, and security by which they will grow and flourish into all that God has destined them to be.
It was God Who designed and instituted marriage. It was His idea from the beginning. Why did He create marriage? So that He could show the world a beautiful picture of His love for us.
God ordained marriage to provide the world
with a picture of His love for men and women.
God also created marriage so that a man and a woman could have:
- companionship
- enjoyment
- fruitfulness
- protection
- etc.
So, here are a few practical ideas for keeping your marriage strong, healthy, and full of joy:
1. Never keep a “list.”
We’ve got to deal with stuff as it comes up and not let it pile up.
1 Corinthians 13:5 … love keeps no record of being wronged.
2. Other than Jesus, make each other your top priority over anyone else.
We too often treat our friends and co-workers better than our spouse – the one we’ve covenanted our life to.
Matthew 19:4-6 “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.”
3. Never go to bed relationally unsettled.
Deal with issues now. In the morning you’ll probably “let it go” and let it continue to simmer for a future explosion.
Ephesians 4:26 … Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry.
4. At least once a day, speak words of life to your spouse.
Affirmation builds up and strengthens a person . . . and a relationship.
Proverbs 18:21 The tongue can bring death or life …
5. Always greet with an affectionate welcome.
Whoo-hoo!!
Song of Songs 1:2 Kiss me and kiss me again, for your love is sweeter than wine.
6. Always remember “For richer or poorer – for better or for worse – in sickness and health” –
Embrace with joy and contentment every moment that God has given you together.
Proverbs 15:17 A bowl of vegetables with someone you love is better than steak with someone you hate.
7. Always choose to make your spouse look good.
Never put them down in front of others . . . or when alone either.
Ephesians 4:29 Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
8. Get over it, your spouse will eventually offend you. Learn to forgive.
This is a command – not an option!
Mark 11:25 But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”
9. Don’t try to be the Holy Spirit.
Don’t use faith, the Bible, or God as a hammer.
Matthew 7:1-2 “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. 2 For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged
10. Always love like God loves.
Insert your name here:
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 _____ is patient and kind. _____ is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. _____ does not demand its own way. ______ is not irritable, and _____ keeps no record of being wronged. 6 _____ does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 _____ never gives up, _____ never loses faith, _____ is always hopeful, and _____ endures through every circumstance.
And don’t forget:
Marriage: successful, fruitful and enjoyable, is best accomplished when husband and wife both make their relationship with Jesus the primary focus of their lives.
Matthew 6:33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
Jesus cannot be the center of your marriage
unless He is the center of your own life first.
Love you guys,
Steve 🙂
How about sharing one of your tips for a terrific marriage?