INVESTMENT

Investment: The “Deposit of your intimate resources for the success of your marriage.” -Pastor Tai & Dr. Sh'nai.

This key pillar is based on understanding the power of the principles of God's unfailing Word and the intentionality that is necessary for your marriage to succeed.

When I counsel married men, one of the questions they ask me is "What do you do to sustain a happy marriage? How do I keep my wife satisfied and it seems like it's never enough?" I know. That was two questions and a statement! That's usually how it comes. Here is what I tell them. "You can't get it done in three or four days a year. It takes more than your anniversary, Valentine's Day, Mother's or Father's Day, and birthdays to make lasting investments in your marriage.

In Genesis 8:22, we see that God says that there will always be seedtime and harvest. So, from the beginning, we see that God was laying the foundation for what we should do in our marriage. Investment is an ongoing and necessary part of a strong healthy marriage. What should I invest you ask? You should invest your TIME, MONEY & ENERGY.

Your TIME investment in your marriage helps grow your connection and intimacy. Praying with and for each other. Just being there in each other's space. Pack up a lunch and go on an intimate picnic in the park. These are good deposits. According to Malcolm Gladwell's "10,000 rule" In order to master anything, you must invest a minimum of 10,000 hours of deliberate practice." Nothing that you are unwilling to invest in will you ever get better at. Interestingly enough in Deut 24: 5, we once again see the Word of God reinforcing this pillar as it instructs a newly married man to be free an entire year to do nothing but bring happiness to his wife. 10,000 hours. That's just over a year!

Your MONEY...Well, this is probably the most obvious. How you do it makes all of the difference. Using your financial resources to create memories is a great way to make meaningful deposits into your marriage. Planning time away together. Buying well-thought-out small tokens of your appreciation for each other is also great. Building a legacy together is also a beautiful way to create a connection. According to the Word of God in Proverbs 13:22, your plans should be setting up your children's children. Be intentional about planning. Also, finding ways to be thoughtful all year round creates positive equity in your relationship. It's not about the amount, it's about the thought.

ENERGY. It all takes energy. Another word is sacrifice. There are some things that you might want to do or that your spouse may want to do at a particular time. Sacrificing means that you give up what "you" want to do and you compromise so that you both are happy. Take turns getting your way and make sure that the enemy doesn't have any room to creep into your relationship and turn something that should have been fun into a bad experience. Find ways to be thoughtful. When you are out, look for ways to bless your spouse. What is their favorite snack or drink? Does your spouse like flowers? Teddy Bears? A card? What about leaving a thoughtful note on the bed on your way out to work or sending a loving text message or video?

Again, what you sow you will reap! Is your marriage worth the investment? It absolutely is! If you embrace this pillar and put in the work, your marriage will be well on its way to being dynamic. Our next pillar is Love. Join us on day four as we discuss the importance of Love in your marriage.