By Bishop Keith Butler, StreamingFaith.com
Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. 2 Corinthians 2:11 (KJV)There are three areas to pay particular attention to if you are thinking about marrying. These are the three most common pitfalls for marital break-up. If you know what they are in advance, you can avoid them and live a successful happy life in your marriage union before God.
One of the first things that cause marital break up is lack of communication. So single people have to learn how to be able to communicate with the other sex. The only way you are going to learn how to communicate with others is to be honest with yourself. The ability to communicate successfully (where we both parties hear, both understand the message conveyed, and both receive from each other) is fundamentally key. You must communicate. You must be willing to talk and to listen, because communication is not just talking.
The second reason why you have marital break up is lack of commitment. If you are going to get married to someone you have to be able to commit everything you have to them. You have to be willing to commit all your time, all your money, and all your energy. You must be willing to commit your body. You must be willing to commit all the things you want to that spouse and place what is important to him or her ahead of what is important to you.
The third reason for marital break up is selfishness. It's about "what I want." You give me what I want and maybe I will give you what you want. A lot of times people have difficulty going from being single to married because of this issue right here. They are not ready to loose everything. Selflessness keeps a marriage together. It is about what your spouse wants. Give your spouse what he or she wants, and God will see to it that you get what you want. Give and it shall be given unto you. Marriage is about giving.
If you know Satan's strategies ahead of time, then you will know how to defeat them when they arise. Since you have knowledge, you can use the Word of God and be victorious over these issues. My wife and I have been married for over 25 years. We are happily married, because we have put the word of God to work in our lives. Life is good when you put God first.
Scripture References: 2 Corinthians 2:10-11; Luke 6:38
Black Voices Gospel Gallery
Kirk Franklin is seen with the award for best gospel artist at the 39th NAACP Image Awards on Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Gus Ruelas)
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This undated photo released by the Walker Arts Center shows the photograph "Big Box Reuse: Grace Gospel Church, Pinellas Park, FL, 2007," by Julia Christensen. The photograph is part of the exhibition "Worlds Away: New Suburban Landscapes," which opens at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis on Saturday, Feb. 16. With more than 75 works ranging from architectural models of strip mall parking lots to large photographs of eerily empty mansions, the exhibit explores the history, the stories and the possible future of the suburb. (AP Photo/Julia Christensen)
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Members of China's Guanhua Arobatic Team from Shanghai, China, demonstrate their talent during their stay at the Union Gospel Mission homeless shelter in Dallas, Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2008. The team arrived at the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport this week to begin a 10-month national tour. The only problems: No one came to greet them, and no tour dates have been set. (AP Photo/Donna McWilliam)
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Dongdong Zhang with the Guanhua Arobatic Team from China demonstrates his talent while he stays at the Union Gospel Mission homeless shelter in Dallas, Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2008. (AP Photo/Donna McWilliam)
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Members of China's Guanhua Acrobatic team, from left, Chengjian Wang, Yan Liang, Hongivan Wang and Coach Wenbin Gao sit with James Lee from Richardson, Texas, right, as he translates to reporters how the team was stranded at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport after flying from Shanghai, China, and are now staying at the Union Gospel Mission homeless shelter in Dallas, Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2008. (AP Photo/Donna McWilliam)
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The Clark Sisters (L-R) Karen, Dorinda and Jacky, hold their 3 Grammys for Best Gospel Performance for "Blessed & Highly Favored", for Best Gospel Song for "Blessed and Highly Favored" and for Best Traditional Gospel Album for "Live-One Last Time" at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles February 10, 2008. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson (UNITED STATES)
Reuters
the Clark Sisters pose with the trophy of Best Traditional Gospel Album at the 50th Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on February 10, 2008. AFP PHOTO/Valerie MACON (Photo credit should read VALERIE MACON/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
The Clark Sisters pose with the trophy of Best Traditional Gospel Album at the 50th Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on February 10, 2008. AFP PHOTO/Valerie MACON (Photo credit should read VALERIE MACON/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 10: The Clark Sisters, (L-R) Karen Clark Sheard, Dorinda Clark Cole and Jacky Clark Chisholm pose with the Best Gospel Performance award in the press room during the 50th annual Grammy awards held at the Staples Center on February 10, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)
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Ricky Skaggs (L) and The Whites, Sharon (2nd,L) Cheryl and Buck, pose with their award for Best Southern, Country, Or Bluegrass Gospel Album for "Salt Of The Earth" at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles February 10, 2008. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson (UNITED STATES)
Reuters
1. "You must be willing to commit all the things you want to that spouse and place what is important to him or her ahead of what is important to you." ...is he serious about this? It seems to me that the main thing you forgot to add was COMPROMISE. I'm not going to give into everything my spouse wants and forego all of my wants and desires. We should be able to compromise on things, and come to a happy medium.
vanessa at 2:53PM on Mar 6th 2008