Don't Let Your Marriage Collapse
“The honeymoon is over,” is an American expression used when there is trouble in the marriage.
In years past, there was a thing called courtship. This is when a man would woo a woman with flowers, perfume, candy and other continual acts of kindness. He would show to her by his continual actions that he was kind, generous, outgoing and a lovable type of person. Today, courtship has become living together, fornicating and using one another for self-gratification. Yes, people have turned what was designed by God to be beautiful into a nightmare of continual sin. How far removed we are from what was intended for our own good by a loving Creator.
The true definition of love is continual, unselfish, outgoing concern for another (Phil. 2:3). Love is an action word. It is serving one another, doing things for one another, not just on birthdays and anniversaries, but continually.
In many cases, if a husband would start buying love gifts and fresh flowers for his wife on a regular basis, she might think he was up to something. When she saw, however, that he meant it because he was consistent and it was coming from his heart, the honeymoon would begin again. Try following the example in the song which says, “I give to you and you give to me, true love, true love.” Yes, we can sing about it in a song, but until we put it into action, there will be no results.
Selfishness is sin. The love of money is selfishness. Selfishness is the root of all evil. The deeds of our flesh are repeated over and over in God’s word. They include immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, jealousy, strife, outbursts of anger, disputes, etc. These things all stem from selfishness. Those who continue to practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God (Gal. 5:19-21; Matt. 15:19; Mark 7:21-23; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; Eph. 5:5-6; 2 Tim. 3:1-5). Often the very people who practice these things are churchgoers, “holding to a form of godliness,” yet not living by every word of God - refusing to recognize their sinful ways or repent of them (Matt. 4:4; Jude 15-16; Romans 1:29-32; Mal. 3:5; Rev. 21:8; Rev. 16:9-11; Rev. 9:20-21). Read these Scriptures and recognize these sins in yourself, then begin a life of repentance immediately. Begin a life of loving, giving, sharing and caring. Show compassion, kindness and forgiveness, first to your mate, and then to all others for the rest of your life. This is how you imitate God (Eph. 5:1; 1 Peter 4:1).
If wives are to win their disobedient husbands to the Lord by their actions, without a word, how much more should a husband do the same (1 Peter 3:1)! It’s time for us to grow up and repent or we will all perish (Luke 13:3, 5). Jesus always means what He says (Ezek. 7:9; Jer. 4:22; 8:6; 9:9; 16:12; 17:9-10; Jer. 25:4-5; 26:13; Mal. 3:6).
The Lord wants you to live happily by daily practicing what is right in His sight. When you are not doing what is right, you are troubling your own house and God’s word says you will eventually inherit the wind. That means you’ll lose everything (Prov. 11:29 NIV).
True repentance is doing good deeds daily to please the Father in heaven (Acts 26:20; John 8:29). Begin to repent in your marriage by taking the first step. Jesus will be right behind you. The Lord only expects three things from you: Study His word, put it into practice, and pray for others, as well as yourself (Matt. 7:24; Luke 8:21; John 8:51; 12:47-50; 1 Thess. 5:17; Eph. 6:18; Luke 18:1; 11:5-10). Is that too much to ask when He gives you His salvation?