MEMORY VERSE: “Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:” – Proverbs 24:3 (KJV)
BIBLE PASSAGE: Proverbs 5:3-4 (KJV)
LESSON INTRODUCTION: God, invented marriage for companionship, sexual intimacy, procreation and invariably fulfillment (Genesis 2:18, 21-24). However, what becomes of marriage depends primarily on the understanding of the couple on what marriage should be and the factors that positively or negatively influence such understanding (Proverbs 24:3-4). How a couple manage such influence(s) determines whether or not there will be happiness, peace, progress etc. We shall, therefore, address some of this marriage influencers in this lesson.
LESSON OUTLINES
- NEGATIVE INFLUENCERS
- POSITIVE INFLUENCERS
- NEGATIVE INFLUENCERS
- Friends in toxic relationship: Couples must protect their marriage from failure by avoiding destructive relationship patterns sponsored by third parties whose marriages seem not to be working (1 Corinthians 15:33; Psalm 1:1).
- Inordinate pursuit of money or career: Money is needed to run the affairs of the home but when it is being pursued at the expense of the marriage, it may affect the togetherness of the couple (1 Timothy 6:10).
3 Undue attention to social media: Communication becomes hampered when spouses pay more attention to social media activities than to each other (Matthew 6:21). This has destructed family intimacy. - Character defects: One of the factors that make marriage beautiful is changed. However, when spouses refuse to admit the need for a change in a defective lifestyle, such marriage suffer needless tensions (Matthew 7:3).
- Close relationship with ex-lovers opposite sex: Failure to redefine and detach fully from previous or present intimate relationship with the opposite sex can trigger unforeseen sexual immorality (Proverbs 5:3, 15,20).
- Excessive jealousy: This happens when a partner is over possessive. This is dangerous and can lead to destructive behaviours (Proverbs 6:34).
- Addictions: Habits like gambling, alcohol consumption, drug abuse, and the like, are some moral vices that can draw the heart of either of the partners away from the marriage.
- POSITIVE INFLUENCERS
- Trust and understanding (1John 4:18; 1Peter 3:7).
- Selflessness and mutual support (Galatians 6:2; Ecclesiastes 4:9-10).
- Praying together and keeping Christ at the centre of the relationship (Matthew 18:19; Psalm 127:1).
- Building a new home and family culture together (Genesis 2:24).
- Spending quality time together (Proverbs 31:28).
- Guarding hand managing your thoughts (Proverbs 4:23; 23:7)
- Finding work-family balance (Romans 12:11; Psalm 127:2).
- Never go to bed angry (Ephesians 4:26)
- Speaking kind and uplifting words to each other (Proverbs 15:1; Colossians 4:6). Do not nag Proverbs 21:19
- Being reasonable with family finance and budget (Proverbs 16:21)
CONCLUSION
Every marriage is a work-in-progress. Therefore, we must be intentional to make it work.