The Simplicity Of The Gospel

(A Thriving and Fulfilling Relationship)

Is a lasting relationship with God necessarily a fulfilling relationship with God? 

What makes one relationship with God a source of joy, while another seems to be a burden?

What makes the difference between a Christian faith that not only endures, but thrives?

What can we do to make our relationship with God happier and healthier?

What exactly did we commit to when we became a Christian?

If we opened a bag of chips and discovered that they were stale, would we continue to eat the whole bag? If not, why are we ok when our relationship with God goes stale?

As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. ³³ So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.” – Ephesians 5:31-33.

The marriage union between a man and a woman is an illustration of the way Christians and Jesus Christ are one. Within this illustration are core truths that when applied to our relationship with a spouse, or our relationship with God, can make the difference between a relationship that has gone stale versus one that continues to thrive and be a continual source of joy. Now, consider these same questions applied to the relationship of a marriage.

Is a lasting marriage necessarily a fulfilling marriage? 

What makes one lasting marriage a source of joy, while another seems to be a burden?

What makes the difference between a marriage that not only endures, but also thrives?

What can we do to make our marriage happier and healthier?

What exactly did we commit to when we got married?

Marriage, whether between Christ and the bride of Christ, or between a man and a woman, is God’s idea. It is a gift from God that we get to open every day. Therefore, we must not settle for a marriage that becomes stale and routine. I will say that again, “We must not settle for a marriage (whether between a man and a woman or between Christ and His church) that becomes stale and routine.”

A lasting marriage is not the same as a fulfilling marriage. We’ve all met couples who have made their marriage last, but neither of them see happy about it. Likewise, we’ve all met Christians whose relationship with God has become stale and routine. God’s desire is that we discover the beauty of an exciting, intimate relationship with God and with our spouse (if we are married), where love is unconditional and each person likes and enjoys the other’s company.

What makes the difference? What can we do to make our relationships happier and healthier? The answer is found in what we do to support, encourage, and elevate our partner—and how they do the same for us.

If we intentionally and actively choose to value our relationship with God first and our spouse second, above all others, we will have opened the possibilities of a relationship that can thrive and not just survive. If we only coexist together, living in the same house as individuals but not as a team, our relationship may endure but it will never thrive as God intends it too.

What did we commit to when we entered into a covenant of marriage with Christ? If you are married to a spouse, what did you commit to when you got married? Was it just a commitment to remain committed? Or was it a commitment to love until death due you part. It was a commitment to love. In the case of our relationship with God, not even death can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.