Who me?
I don’t know what to do….The problem is too big, I can’t do enough to help….I don’t have anything to offer…. They just need to do what is right….My marriage isn’t that great….I’m not a counselor or a pastor.
These thoughts are the common reaction when a person is challenged to be involved in the big issue of our day - strengthening marriages.
As Christians, we often focus exclusively on one area, such as evangelism. For non-Christians, many believe that everyone should have the freedom to do what they want and that their personal lifestyle doesn’t affect me.
Others beliefs and behavior affects all of us. Most of all, the life of a Christian has a profound impact on a person’s openness to Christ. Evangelism often bounces off hard hearts because Christians don’t want to be involved personally in another person’s life.Research clearly shows that the breakdown of the family brings poverty, higher rates of juvenile delinquency, higher rates of failure in school, and higher rates of broken relationships. The problem belongs to all of us! The problem is very close to God’s heart.
God called on the people in Ezekiel's day, I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land…. (Ezekiel 22:30a)
He was calling for two groups of people - some to build and some to stand in the gap.
Some are equipped or called to build the wall of protection for the family. Some will stand in the gap.
Living Well is building. We have already produced training workshops for churches to build marriage strengthening ministries. We come alongside churches to build those ministries. We build into the lives of many couples through personal two-on-two guidance and through classes.
God may be calling you to be one that stands in the gap by mentoring a younger couple or older women/men mentoring younger women/men... or working on marriage strengthening programs…. Supporting those who build.
One Person Can .....
The Bible talks about the older training the younger. A mentor is not a teacher or a counselor. A mentor is someone who shares their experience. Every person has experience that he can share with someone else - mentoring.
Mentor: Someone whose hindsight can become your foresight. Anonymous
We can be intentional about spending time with a younger couple - encouraging them, listening to them, praying for them, believing in them.
Every Christian that is involved in a church can ask the leadership to include classes/ministries to strengthen marriages. Some can even offer to lead a class or help with a class.
You can support those who are building the walls to preserve marriages and families - support them in prayer, in donations, and by adding your voice of affirmation.
Perhaps, most importantly, you can do all that is possible to strengthen your own marriage for the sake of others who are watching - and they ARE watching.
…. by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. (1 Peter 2:15 CEV)
Please see our next post - This Road Leads to .....
