"Marriage: It Begins With Me"

  Over the many years I have personally witnessed individuals destroy their own marriage. It is a sad case because those who destroy it blame the other and take little responsibility. But that's not the worst. The worst is listening to the Lord has little or no impact on their heart. They will carry out their desires they way they wish no matter what the Lord may call them to do.

  Too many blame their mates in the marriage. When one goes off into sin, they say their mate drove them to do what they did. How ridiculous. All sin is our choice and no one makes another sin. Just read the Genesis account of the garden and fall of man and it is real clear God holds each accountable for their own actions. Let me lay this out clearly: no one, no one, NO ONE causes another to sin. We are drawn into our own desires and want to fulfill those. Take a close look at James 1:13-15.

  How do we keep our marriages strong? First, it begins with me! I must be committed to the Lord in my own heart and follow Him. That means I must deny myself (Matt. 16:24). Secondly, we need to realize just how little is spoken of marriage in the Bible. Think about this. There is not extensive teaching or instruction on having a home where God resides. Why? Because when we dethrone ourselves as Lord and keep Jesus in His rightful place in our lives, the home will be what God intended! When we read of the relationship of husbands/wives mentioned in Eph. 5, we see in actuality the relationship between Christ and the church (5:32). That's the model Paul uses for the home. If husbands would love their wives just as Christ loved the church, what would that do for the home? If wives would submit to their husbands as to the Lord, as the church does to the Lord, what would that do for the home? In all this we see it is a matter of the relationship to the Lord. Throw out the relationship to the Lord and there we will see the product of our own hands. 

  Our homes need to built around the Lord Jesus and nothing else. Too many times people in the home talk a good game but are really self-centered. That's the opposite of love. When individuals are self-centered the only time things go smoothly is when things go their way. The problem with wanting your way will eventually destroy. Love doesn't do that. When people want their way it blocks God's intentions. When people want their way it causes arguments and dissensions (Gal. 5:19-21). When people want their way it ends up dividing, not drawing nearer. When people want their way it will separate you from God and you will find that you have reaped what you have sown.

  Are you truly committed to the Lord with all your heart? Are you willing to do the very best for your mate no matter what? Do you want a stronger marriage and a fulfilling marriage? It's the Lord Jesus we serve, not man and we find that it all beings with me!