Forget love! I am completely serious.
Take a look at your partner. What got you to them? What were you looking for? I looked for happiness. What did it get me?
There is this longstanding myth that love can conquer all. It is completely and totally not true when it comes to marriage. Marriage is a job. There is no other way to describe it. Face it, folks, you could fall in love with lots of people who fit the right criteria. Enough time around them and you will become enamored. Enough kissing, enough flirting, enough conversation....and the sale is made. But what gets things farther than that?
Let’s arrange a situation. You are ten years into marriage. For the last two years neither of you has had a job. You have the standard two or three kids. Mortgage, car notes. Every single day is stressful. You know what gets you through? Production.
My wife has an enormous work ethic. Hers is actually much more powerful than mine. She can get lots of things done in a small amount of time, and usually enjoy herself in the process. Why did I marry her?
She tried. She put out the effort. I did not have to chase her down. She was a fabulous friend long before we dated. What really got us together is that we both realized that neither one of us would give up on OURSELVES. Not each other. Neither one of us would make a bad choice about OUR OWN SITUATIONS. That is key. If your partner does not take the right steps to upkeep their life....folks.....you are not going to be happy soon.
Guys...we just want to enjoy life. Being close to Jesus and fellowship and worship and blessings and family is great! But if you want to figure out the key to a great relationship, find someone who wants to work hard and succeed, regardless of whether or not they are with you.
Without self-respect, no relationship can truly flourish. Ask Jesus....He’ll tell you the same thing.
Take a look at your partner. What got you to them? What were you looking for? I looked for happiness. What did it get me?
There is this longstanding myth that love can conquer all. It is completely and totally not true when it comes to marriage. Marriage is a job. There is no other way to describe it. Face it, folks, you could fall in love with lots of people who fit the right criteria. Enough time around them and you will become enamored. Enough kissing, enough flirting, enough conversation....and the sale is made. But what gets things farther than that?
Let’s arrange a situation. You are ten years into marriage. For the last two years neither of you has had a job. You have the standard two or three kids. Mortgage, car notes. Every single day is stressful. You know what gets you through? Production.
My wife has an enormous work ethic. Hers is actually much more powerful than mine. She can get lots of things done in a small amount of time, and usually enjoy herself in the process. Why did I marry her?
She tried. She put out the effort. I did not have to chase her down. She was a fabulous friend long before we dated. What really got us together is that we both realized that neither one of us would give up on OURSELVES. Not each other. Neither one of us would make a bad choice about OUR OWN SITUATIONS. That is key. If your partner does not take the right steps to upkeep their life....folks.....you are not going to be happy soon.
Guys...we just want to enjoy life. Being close to Jesus and fellowship and worship and blessings and family is great! But if you want to figure out the key to a great relationship, find someone who wants to work hard and succeed, regardless of whether or not they are with you.
Without self-respect, no relationship can truly flourish. Ask Jesus....He’ll tell you the same thing.