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Making your Spouse your Priority
Genesis 29:7 And he said, Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together: water ye the sheep, and go and feed them. 8 And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and till they roll the stone from the well’s mouth; then we water the sheep. 9 And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep: for she kept them. 10 And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother. 11 And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept. 12 And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s brother, and that he was Rebekah’s son: and she ran and told her father. 13 And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister’s son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things. 14 And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month. 15 And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be? 16 And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured. 18 And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. 19 And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me. 20 And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.
Meet the needs of your spouse whether they meet yours or not Genesis 29:10 And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother.
Rachel couldn’t feed her sheep because she needed help with the large stone that covered the well
Jacob did not need to be told what her need was because he was attentive-watching, paying attention, ready to serve
The message today is not about you having a list to correct your spouse but to look at you and your actions
Do you anticipate his or her needs before they ever mention them
Are you attentive-watchful-caring
God has already met your needs before you even realized your need
He is the author and finisher of our faith Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
He has tasted death for all men Hebrews 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
Salvation is a gift waiting on you to realize your need and accept it
Showing your spouse their importance by the investment of time Genesis 29:20 And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.
Jacob saw her and said that she was well worth the investment of 7 years of his life
He loved her so much that the time flew by
Would your family feel that they are a priority because of the way you manage your time?
Do you need to rearrange your schedule?
Do you need to drop some commitments?
Do you need to change your lifestyle?
Should you take inventory and decide what is important in your life and set up some priorities?
Develop some rituals
Eat together
Hold hands every chance you get
Kiss after the prayer
Have family devotions
Kiss coming and going
Have dates with your children and spouse
Say you love each other, hug, touch
Be expressive
Look for romantic things to do for your spouse
Write love notes
How have you shown God that He is the priority of your life?
Seek Him first Matthew 6:33
Spend time with God
In prayer
In worship services
In Bible reading
Would it be obvious that God is a priority in your life by the way you spend your time?
Do you need to rearrange your schedule?
Do you need to drop some commitments?
Do you need to change your lifestyle?
Do you need to take inventory of what is really important in your life?
You need to develop some rituals in your life
Devotional life
Worship service
Honoring God with your money
You need to be expressive
How much do you talk about Him and your relationship with Him?
How much do you tell Him that you love Him?
How do you worship Him in the services, in song, in listening, in responding, in giving
Not allowing obstacles to hinder your love Genesis 29:30 And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years
Jacob realizes that Laban has deceived him and given him the wrong woman
To get Rachel he will end up serving 14 years
Setbacks, problems, adversity often mess up your marriage because you are focused on the wrong thing
You are focused on you
You are not focused on your spouse
Do not criticize or allow others to do so
Fight fair
Give your spouse some space
Do not be selfish in this relationship
Serve God together as a family
Let your overcoming problems express your love
To make God your priority you will need to follow Him no matter what the cost
Nowhere in the Bible does it say serve Him for the blessings
Jesus said if you wanted to serve Him you had to take up your cross and follow Him
Following Jesus is a life of sacrifice
Loving regardless of what your spouse can do for you Genesis 29:31 And when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.
Rachel could not have children
She feels that her worth has devalued but he loves her without regard to what he gets
Encourage each other with positive comments like Hannah’s husband did-am I not better to you than 10 sons I Samuel 1:8 Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?
Accept your spouse as they are
Meditate on the good things about your family, your spouse
Have a funeral--literally think of what you would say at the funeral-be honest-if you think right you will act right
You would do anything to get them back
You would remember all the good times
You would tell everyone about their good character
Seek God not for what you can get but because you love Him because He first loved you.
Meditate on all that He has done for you
Consider what would be important if you were 10 minutes from dying