Growth, Legacy, and the Future

The average wedding cost today is ~$22,300

That is a lot of money for something that has a 50-50 chance of failing.

Would you spend $22,300 on a car that has a 50% chance of failure?

Would you fail to change the oil in a car that costs $22,300?

Lisa and I spent less than $1000 dollars on our wedding. My daughter’s wedding cost somewhere around $750-1000.

That’s just because I am cheap.

Couples spend nearly $50 billion dollars a year on weddings in the USA and $25 billion of that is a bad investment.

What is your marriage worth?

Song of Solomon 2:16 ESV

16 My beloved is mine, and I am his; he grazes among the lilies.

How do you invest in your marriage?

I have several suggestions.

Suggestions

Keep God as #1

When we stop pursuing and choosing one another, we allow footholds to take place in our lives and in our relationships. In other words when we begin prioritizing other things, getting distracted, or simply growing complacent - we create a recipe for losing at love. -Built different podcast

1. Support your spouses personal growth

Ministry together

(This alone can make your relationship much better and reduce the chance of separation or divorce from 50% to .15%)

Education

Trade

Hobbies

Exercise together

Date regularly

2. Leave a relational legacy (for kids, community, etc.)

What do your kids see in your relationship?

Galatians 5:22–23 ESV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Ephesians 5:21 ESV

21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Do they see you pray?

Do they see you read the bible?

Do they see you worship?

Do they know you believe in God?

Have you shown them how to be a believer?

Philippians 1:9–10 ESV

9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,

Ephesians 5:28–29 ESV

28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church,

Who is number 1 in your home?

Is God #1?

Is your spouse #2?

Are your children #3?

1 Peter 3:7 ESV

7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

Proverbs 31:10 ESV

10 An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.

What do your kids see you doing?

What are your priorities?

3. Renew your commitment

Renew your covenant agreement between you, your spouse, and God.

Ecclesiastes 4:12 ESV

12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Show fruit in your actions, do, not say!

(Commas save lives.)

Show your spouse what value he/she has in your life.

Plan time away with her/him.

Keep God #1, but make it clear how important #2 is.

Activities:

Write/restate vows or promises

Plan a 1-year, 5-year vision for the future