Prioritizing God and Spouse in Relationships
Summary
In today's gathering, we embarked on a new series titled "I Promise," focusing on the promises we should make in our marriages and relationships. This series is not just for those who are married but also for teenagers, singles, and those who may be divorced or looking to remarry. The core of today's discussion was the "Promise of Priority," which emphasizes the importance of setting the right priorities in our lives, particularly in our relationships.
We began by acknowledging the alarming statistic that 40% of first marriages in the U.S. end in divorce, highlighting the need for a reevaluation of our priorities. The central scripture for today was Matthew 22:37-39, where Jesus commands us to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. This scripture sets the foundation for understanding that God should be our number one priority, followed by our spouse as number two.
The concept of priority was further explored through the Hebrew word "azab," which means to let go of something to commit to something new. This idea is crucial in understanding the reorganization of priorities that should occur in our lives, especially when entering into marriage. For teenagers and singles, this means preparing for a future where God is the primary focus, and a future spouse becomes the second priority.
We also discussed the competitors that often challenge this promise of priority, such as children, careers, and hobbies. While these are good things, they should not take precedence over God and our spouse. The importance of guarding our eyes, hearts, and time was emphasized, particularly in the context of protecting our relationships from the pervasive issue of pornography.
In conclusion, the promise of priority is about making God our one and our spouse our two. This alignment not only honors God but also strengthens our marriages and prepares singles for future relationships. As we move forward, let us commit to evaluating our priorities and making the necessary changes to ensure that God remains at the center of our lives.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Promise of Priority: Prioritizing God as number one and your spouse as number two is essential for a healthy marriage. This alignment helps prevent many common marital issues and ensures that your relationship is grounded in faith. [34:17]
2. Understanding 'Azab': The Hebrew word "azab" teaches us to let go of old priorities to commit to new ones, particularly in marriage. This reorganization is crucial for maintaining a healthy balance between personal and relational commitments. [47:42]
3. Guarding Against Competitors: Children, careers, and hobbies, while important, should not overshadow the primary relationship with God and your spouse. Keeping these priorities in check prevents them from becoming detrimental to your marriage. [53:03]
4. Protecting Your Eyes and Heart: In a world where pornography is prevalent, guarding your eyes and heart is vital for maintaining intimacy and trust in your marriage. This protection is crucial for both men and women, as it affects the quality of future relationships. [58:47]
5. Commitment to Change: Evaluating and adjusting your priorities requires intentional effort and may involve seeking help from trusted friends or counselors. This commitment to change is necessary for making God and your spouse the central focus of your life. [01:08:41]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [32:29] - Introduction to the Series
- [34:17] - The Promise of Priority
- [36:45] - Understanding the Greatest Commandment
- [38:37] - Loving God with Heart, Soul, and Mind
- [39:59] - Prioritizing Your Spouse
- [41:54] - God as Number One
- [43:02] - Why God Should Be First
- [47:42] - The Meaning of 'Azab'
- [53:03] - Competitors to Priority
- [55:24] - Careers and Hobbies
- [56:43] - Practical Suggestions for Prioritizing
- [58:47] - Guarding Your Eyes
- [01:03:32] - Resources for Help
- [01:07:29] - Homework and Reflection
- [01:10:07] - Invitation to Make God First
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: "I Promise" Series - The Promise of Priority
Bible Reading:
- Matthew 22:37-39
---
Observation Questions:
1. What is the significance of the "Promise of Priority" as discussed in the sermon? How does it relate to the statistics about marriage and divorce? [32:29]
2. In Matthew 22:37-39, what are the two greatest commandments according to Jesus, and how do they relate to setting priorities in relationships? [36:45]
3. How does the Hebrew word "azab" illustrate the concept of reorganizing priorities in marriage? [47:42]
4. What are some of the competitors mentioned in the sermon that challenge the promise of priority in relationships? [53:03]
---
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does prioritizing God as number one and a spouse as number two help prevent common marital issues? [41:54]
2. What does the sermon suggest about the role of children, careers, and hobbies in relation to the primary relationship with God and a spouse? [53:03]
3. How does the sermon address the issue of pornography, and why is it important to guard one's eyes and heart in maintaining intimacy and trust in relationships? [58:47]
4. What practical steps are suggested in the sermon for evaluating and adjusting one's priorities to align with the promise of priority? [01:08:41]
---
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current list of priorities. Who or what is truly number one in your life, and how does this align with the teachings of Matthew 22:37-39? [01:07:29]
2. If you are married, how can you actively ensure that your spouse is your number two priority after God? What changes might you need to make in your daily routine to reflect this? [41:54]
3. For singles and teenagers, how can you prepare now to make God your number one priority and a future spouse your number two? What habits or practices can you start developing today? [39:59]
4. Identify any competitors in your life, such as children, careers, or hobbies, that might be overshadowing your relationship with God or your spouse. What steps can you take to realign these priorities? [53:03]
5. In what ways can you guard your eyes and heart against influences like pornography that threaten the intimacy and trust in your relationships? What resources or support systems can you utilize to help with this? [58:47]
6. Consider the concept of "azab" and letting go of old priorities to commit to new ones. What is one old priority you need to let go of to better commit to your relationship with God or your spouse? [47:42]
7. How can you involve trusted friends or counselors in your journey to evaluate and adjust your priorities? What specific steps will you take to seek their guidance and support? [01:08:41]
Devotional
Day 1: Prioritizing God and Spouse for a Strong Foundation
In the journey of life, setting the right priorities is crucial, especially in relationships. The "Promise of Priority" emphasizes that God should be our number one priority, followed by our spouse as number two. This alignment is essential for a healthy marriage and helps prevent many common marital issues. By grounding our relationships in faith, we create a strong foundation that can withstand life's challenges. This principle is not only for those who are married but also for singles and teenagers, as it prepares them for future relationships. [34:17]
"Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!" (1 Chronicles 16:11, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you actively prioritize God in your daily routine, ensuring He remains at the center of your life and relationships?
Day 2: Embracing 'Azab' for New Commitments
The Hebrew word "azab" teaches us the importance of letting go of old priorities to commit to new ones, particularly in marriage. This concept is vital for maintaining a healthy balance between personal and relational commitments. As we enter into new phases of life, such as marriage, it's essential to reorganize our priorities to reflect our new commitments. This reorganization allows us to fully embrace the responsibilities and joys that come with these new roles, ensuring that our relationships thrive. [47:42]
"Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." (Genesis 2:24, ESV)
Reflection: What old priorities or habits do you need to let go of to fully commit to your current or future relationships?
Day 3: Guarding Against Competing Priorities
In our fast-paced world, many things compete for our attention, such as children, careers, and hobbies. While these are important aspects of life, they should not overshadow our primary relationship with God and our spouse. Keeping these priorities in check is crucial to prevent them from becoming detrimental to our marriage. By being mindful of these competitors, we can ensure that our relationships remain strong and centered on what truly matters. [53:03]
"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (1 John 2:15, ESV)
Reflection: Identify one area in your life that often takes precedence over your relationship with God or your spouse. How can you adjust your priorities to address this?
Day 4: Protecting Your Eyes and Heart
In a world where pornography and other distractions are prevalent, guarding your eyes and heart is vital for maintaining intimacy and trust in your marriage. This protection is crucial for both men and women, as it affects the quality of current and future relationships. By being vigilant about what we allow into our minds and hearts, we can preserve the sanctity of our relationships and ensure they remain healthy and fulfilling. [58:47]
"Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways." (Psalm 119:37, ESV)
Reflection: What practical steps can you take today to guard your eyes and heart from distractions that could harm your relationships?
Day 5: Committing to Change for a Christ-Centered Life
Evaluating and adjusting your priorities requires intentional effort and may involve seeking help from trusted friends or counselors. This commitment to change is necessary for making God and your spouse the central focus of your life. By being open to change and willing to seek guidance, we can ensure that our lives are aligned with our values and that our relationships are built on a solid foundation of faith. [01:08:41]
"Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?" (2 Corinthians 13:5, ESV)
Reflection: What is one specific change you can make this week to better align your life with your commitment to God and your spouse?
Quotes
Here are the selected quotes with timestamps:
"We're starting a brand new series today called I Promise. And we're going to be looking at some promises that we should be making if you're married in your present tense marriage. But also, these are so important for the teenagers in this room, for those who are divorced, those who maybe are looking to someday be remarried. Like, whatever the situation, these are so important that we understand these promises regardless of where you are in life." [00:31:20]
"In fact, and God knows way more than we know, like if we could actually get this right, so many of the issues and struggles and conflict that we face in marriage would actually be right. And God knows way more than we know. If legitimately, and I mean legitimately, authentically, God was actually actively my one and my spouse was actually my two, meaning nothing else is more important other than God, don't you think it would change things?" [00:42:05] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"Why would I make something that God created be more important than the creator himself? Like, that makes no sense. But everything in this world screams to us that something else or someone else should be more important than God. And I think that's a big thing. So our first promise, the promise of priority, is basically this. God is my one, and my spouse is my two." [00:43:05] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"Today's the day to say, hey, I'm going all in. Maybe He was all the way. God today is going to be first. I'm making a decision. I'm making a commitment. I've decided I'm going to follow Him. He's going to be first. the world behind me, the cross before me, right?" [01:11:31] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"Father, I pray over every person who just raised their hands. God, so many people in this room. Father, I pray it wouldn't just be a religious thing. It wouldn't just be a church thing. It wouldn't just be in a moment thing. God, I pray that there would be something, even now that your Holy Spirit is doing inside of them, that there would be a commitment that God really is gonna be first in my life." [01:13:55] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained only on this specific sermon. Do you have any questions about it?