MEMORY VERSE: “Neither give place to the devil” Ephesians 4:27
BIBLE PASSAGE: 1 Corinthians 7:1-40
INTRODUCTION: God is the author of marriage Gen.2:24 He designed it to bring glory to His name and for mankind to enjoy. However, many marriages today are not conforming to this original purpose of God. Rather than bringing pleasure, many marriages are full of pains and tales of woes because of human choices made contrary to biblical blueprints. In this lesson, we shall unravel some of the gaps prevalent in some man relationships as opposed to a blissful enjoyment among couples. leading to painful endurance of
OUTLINES
1. CATEGORIES OF MARITAL GAPS GAPS
2. SOME PRACTICAL WAYS TO BRIDGING THE GAPS
1. CATEGORIES OF MARITAL GAPS
(a) Distance gaps. Long periods of absence from home due to travel, work, military service greatly reduces the opportunities for couples to bond properly. Biblical examples are Portiphar Gen.39:5-7 and Uriah 2 Sam. 11. Long-distance marriage is not ideal.
(b) Emotional gaps. The feeling of insecurity and loneliness, whether emotional, physical, or sexual, can create a gap between couples. This might lead to the search for excitement to escape boredom and experimenting with new things that would affect the relationship between spouses.
(c)Poor personal boundaries: In our various spheres of relationships, we must make clear what is acceptable or unacceptable to marital gap.
(d) Revenge: The desire to pay back the wrong done to us by partner in the same coin’ can result in marital gap.
(e) Sexual gaps. Many partners in a marital relationship are. enjoying sexual intimacy as often as they would have liked to external pressures. You must be sensitive to your spouse’s needs or risk infidelity.
(f) Financial gaps: When the financial orientation of the differs and both parties fail to agree on how to budget money, there are bound to be conflicts that may negatively affect the union
(g) Physical physiological gaps. There are also situations the union couple does not create time to pay attention to each other or grow their relationship. Eventually, one or both might become into extramarital affairs. Mal.2:14-16.
(h) Communication gaps. Communication is one of the fundamental components of a successful relationship. If you can talk to your spouse and listen to what he or she has to say, y will have a hard time making it through the difficult hurdles in marriage. Not being able to share secrets, stories, and feelings with their spouses can lead some people to open up to others emotionally you
(i) Excessive use of the internet and social media. Connecting with other people at the expense of your spouse can create a gap in your relationship.
2. SOME PRACTICAL WAYS TO BRIDGING THE GAPS
You can take your relationship to the next level by taking these practical steps to bridge the gaps.
1. Avoid living separately in the name job offer or searching for ‘greener pasture’.
2. Understand your spouse’s love languages i.e. ask and do things that make them want to be with you the more e.g. holding of hands.
3. Go out together on dates, visit other families, friends, and colleagues together.
4. Commend the good things your spouse does.
5 Condemn what is bad in love (not the person but the act) and apologize genuinely. Give no room to the devil Eph. 4:27 Handle matters discreetly and immediately they arise.
6. Celebrate each other, exchange gifts regularly, and create a conducive atmosphere for God’s presence in your homes Ps. 133:1.
CONCLUSION
Marriages succeed on intentional effort and purposeful choices made by the partners to make it heaven on earth.
FURTHER READINGS –
Mon: Job 11:14. Tues: Ps.103:12. Wed: Prov. 10:19. Thurs: Job 8:11. Fri: Prov.6:27. Sat: Isa.35:10. Sun : Hos.2:7.