planning to fail

I am preparing for a new series that begins in a week at The Community.  We will discovering ways to make our relationships stronger and more meaningful, but what is obvious to me as I pray and prepare is that many people are planning to fail.  Literally they are not taking precautions to help or taking steps to make stronger their relationships.

What is worth having is worth working for.  You have heard that before, and the content of that statement reminds us that what we value cannot be taken for granted.  A good example is our salvation.  Praise God for His saving grace that came through Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.  He has forgiven our sin and given us the ability to enjoy our lives.  But we have to let our salvation work in us as we follow Jesus.

Philippians 2:12  NASB

So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;

Working out your salvation does not mean someone works to be saved.  It means that when we are saved that our salvation works in us, changing us as we seek and follow Jesus.

Relationships are much the same.  When they first begin, we work hard to love the other person and spend time together, but after time relationships often grow cold and less important.  That might not be what we feel or what, but the way we treat our marriages and our relationships speaks much to the fact that we value it or not.

If you have been in a relationship for any length of time, you know that relationships aren’t easy.  You know that relationships take work. 

There is my point.  If you want your marriage or your relationship to be strong, you have to work to make it strong.  In turn if you don’t work to make your marriage work, you are working to make your marriage fail.  You are planning to fail.  Relationships are worth our effort.  What we value we will work at.

Ephesians 5:25  NLT

For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church.  He gave up his life for her

Ephesians 4:32  NLT

Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Loving and forgiving takes work.  Relationships contain mutual submission, respect, honor and love.  As relationships continue there will be a need for forgiveness and understanding.  Without working on our relationships we are planning to fail.

Are you planning to fail in your relationships?