You And Me Forever: Marriage In Light Of EternitySample

"Side by Side"

It’s possible to focus on your marriage so much that it falls apart. 

This is because marriage was designed to function in the context of God’s mission. If each partner is not pursuing God’s calling, then the marriage is headed for trouble. 

For the sake of your marriage, then, put your focus back on the mission God has given you. When we work side by side for God’s glory, our marriages fall into place. We bond naturally. When we put all of our effort into building stronger marriages, our energy is wasted and our marriages are threatened. 

Paul’s desire for the Philippians was that together they would be “standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel” (Phil. 1:27). That was his prayer for the church, but it also provides a good model for marriage. If your marriage is going to be shaped by God’s mission, it will mean looking outward, with each of you laboring side by side for the sake of the gospel.  

It's amazing to see problems miraculously shrink as you look outside of yourself and begin to help other people with their needs.

Discuss with your spouse: Setting aside your own problems for a minute, what other needs or problems do you see in the world and people around you? What would it look like to work side by side with your spouse to address those things? How might this co-laboring bring you more together?