Phil. 2:3
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
Do our relationships have anything to do with our walk with Jesus? In-other-words, as you and I live & act in our world today do those whom we relate to see Jesus through us? There is also a second part to that question. Should we be concerned about others or do we focus on ourselves because others are draining?
As a follower of Christ, we have a great opportunity to live and grow more and more like Jesus every day. Not only that, but we can see that others are able to get a glimpse of how Christians navigate everyday life.
A few years ago, we attached ourselves to a phrase in today’s society that simply said “it’s complicated”.
If we were talking about our husband or our wife, we would say it’s complicated.
If we were talking about our boyfriend or our girlfriend, we would say it’s complicated.
If the subject of our kids came up and someone wanted to know how our kids were doing in school, we would go to the phrase, it’s complicated.
Or, say by-the-way are you still close friends with so-and-so? Well, it’s complicated.
I want you to hear the thesis for my message today. I am not going to tell you that life for the Christian is always easy. It’s not. And I’m not going to tell you that relationships within Christian’s are always wonderful. They’re not. But it is not God complicating our pathways/relationships, simply because He will not do that to you and me. Actually, He is an uncomplicating God. Our challenge before us today in relationships is to prioritize our relationships to allow God to lead and guide us and care for us as he desires to do so.
Well. How do I know he can do that for us?
In the relationship(s) that you are nurturing currently where does Jesus fit in? Begin with our text today.
- Always put others first. How do we do that?
- Be compassionate.
- Be generous.
As I step back and look at the things in relationships today that are destructive here is what I see:
Disagreement in the roles and responsibilities of marriage. This is why we have so many single parent homes. Too many dysfunctional families/households. Too many men with addictions to drugs, alcohol, serial cheating, pornography. Too many women who have abandoned principles of monogamy, modesty, and embrace the killing of pre-born babies.
Disagreement in the style of parenting. My generation didn’t get it right. My parent’s generation didn’t get it right. And probably your generation won’t get it right either.
Disagreement in sexual relationships in marriage and before marriage. When we violate God’s design of one man and one woman joining together for life and instead opt for “hey what the heck let’s give it a try” we devalue and degrade the beautiful thing that God created called sexual relationships.
Somebody is always watching. In one of the Ocean’s movies, Julia Roberts and Andy Garcia, who played her husband, have a tense moment with his wife. Julia tells Andy surely you know in your casino someone is always watching.
What does that have to do with relationships today? Just that, somebody is always watching.
Men are watching heros and sports figures to learn how to become the next GOAT.
Women are watching fashion and Hollywood to see what Taylor is wearing to the Chief’s game.
Children are watching their parents to learn how to navigate things. i.e. honesty, lies, theft, deception. etc etc.
And Christian, a lost world is watching you and me to see if we’re hypocrites.
So, let’s get it done correctly.
A God honoring relationship seeks to impact all aspects of relationships with and infusion of Jesus.
Husbands, your goal this week is to put every one of your wife’s needs before your own.
Wives, your goal this week is to be the biggest cheerleader that your husband has. Let him know that you are for him and not against him.
Parents your goal this week is that you model Jesus before your kids. In every decision made you seek what honors God first in your kid’s life.
In dating relationships, your goal this week is to re-establish Godly boundaries, principles, and safeguards so that as you move forward seeking a lifetime mate you have no regrets of a life that you have ruined with impure motives.
