TODAY IS…

a wonderful day to prioritize relationships

“The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”  John 4:18 NIV

For those of us who are parents, one of our greatest responsibilities to our children should be centered on relationships. We should teach them the value of relationships with friends, family, co-workers, strangers, members of our church and – of paramount importance – we should be teaching them about the relationship between spouses.

If you have always been married to the same person, this may not pertain to you, but how does someone who has been married 3, 4, or 5 times and has had numerous relationships outside of marriage teach a child about the value of the relationship between a man and a woman in marriage?

Certainly there will be those who are reading this who will begin to bristle defensively. Excuses, or reasons, will be offered:

“She was unfaithful.”

“He was abusive.”

“He was a drunk.”

“He spent all his time looking at pornography.”

And on, and on.

Instead of teaching our children the importance of our relationships with each other, we inadvertently teach them that a relationship with God is not important.

For those who would disagree, consider this: If we are secure in our relationship with God, none of the above “reasons” will be a factor in our lives. When the most important relationship in our life is recognized as the relationship we have with God, then – and only then – are we prepared to engage in a relationship with another person.

Who would argue that the predominate reasons given for divorce are the result of sin? Paul had the answer for that: “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.” (Galatians 5:16 NLT).

A strong, loving relationship with God brings us everything that is required to enable us to engage in strong, loving relationships and marriages.

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23 NLT).

Read that over and over.

Who can argue with the fact that those things are the basis for a strong, loving, healthy relationship? No one, of course. To obtain these things without God’s help is impossible. There are simply too many obstacles in the way. These obstacles are called “sin” and temptation. A strong, active, loving relationship with God gives us the ability to overcome any obstacle.

If our relationship with God comes first, our marriage will last. And what a lesson that is for all of us.

Especially for our children.

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Taken from “TODAY IS….A Gift From God”, (C) 2013 Tony Casson