Have you ever looked around and wondered, “What’s up with the demise of the family unit in our culture today?”
Today Pastor Butch Riddle did a guest sermon at Trinity Baptist Church that focused on the role relationships play in the family.
Imperfect families and family problems have been around since the beginning of time. We looked at Genesis 25, where Isaac and Rebekah welcomed twin sons.
Just like it does today, adding children to the marriage relationship created challenges in the marriage. As each parent found favoritism in a different child, the marriage and the sibling relationships grew apart.
Despite their fractured relationships, God was still able to use them. And over time, Esau forgave Jacob.
Family starts with the marriage relationship and it grows from there. The measure of a successful family doesn’t come in the material things they have … the measure of success comes in the strength of your relationships.
Relationships take work. Sometimes they fail, but it is God’s plan for spouses to cleave to one another.
So how do you strengthen strained relationships?
1. Communicate
Put the cell phones down. You can’t communicate with your family if you’re all distracted by your phones. Listen as much as you talk. Make eye contact and look for non-verbals. Without continuous communication, relationships fall apart.
2. Teamwork
Relationships are not about you. It takes everyone working together to achieve goals and keep the family successful.
3. Self Development
You have to be a lifelong learner. Learning allows you to contribute to the relationship.
4. Develop Others
You have to encourage those in your family. You have the be the positive energy in the relationships you’re part of. Don’t be the negative energy.
5. God Centered
For marriages and families to stay strong, they need to be based on Christ and biblical principles. Families need to be in church together.
6. Offer Forgiveness
When things go wrong in a relationship, and they will, you have to be willing to offer forgiveness.
Click here to watch the full message.
