Thursday - "Go Team!"

As a Pastor, I get asked all the time "What makes a marriage stronger?" I honestly think it boils down to a few simple things...we've discussed a couple of them already this week:

1) Keep Christ the center of your marriage
2) Trust each other
3) Communicate with each other in a positive way
4) Enjoy each other

It is this fourth component that we are going to pray about this morning. What does it mean to "enjoy" your relationship? Let's look at today's verse:

Proverbs 17:22 (NLT2) "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength."

What does it mean to have a cheerful heart and not a "broken spirit?" Simple, a cheerful heart has the right attitude and perspective of how Christ wants their marriage to be. They realize that they are part of a team...each member giving 100% to the relationship. I have heard is said many times that marriage is 50/50. I disagree. That implies that each person only gives half of what they are able to give. No, cheerful hearts give unselfishly... Cheerful hearts serve unselfishly... Cheerful hearts love unselfishly.

If you are married, you are part of a team...a whole...in the eyes of God, you are one. I understand that in many marriages, only one spouse is willing to live with a "cheerful heart" while the other seems to be a taker. However, Christ has called us to be individually accountable for our behaviour. We have to make the choice to be dedicated to our husband/wife...how they behave is their issue with God, not yours. You can't force your spouse into a cheerful heart...

Do you want to enjoy your relationship? Keep praying, listening, and serving God... give, serve, and love your spouse without bitterness... and watch your marriage blossom into exactly what God intended it to be. Go team!

Pastor Brian