Ephesians 5:22-24 (NKJV) Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.
God wants us to have a blessed family. He wants our marriage to be blessed. It should be built on a covenant marriage until death do us apart. It is part of the abundant life. However, it doesn’t happen automatically but something that we need to work on intentionally, sacrificially, on many occasions denying to ourselves, and crucifying our flesh. We are done with our rights, privileges, conditions, and individualism the moment we say the marriage vow at the altar or sign the papers. We begin life after the marriage as one flesh in Christ. We will cherish, love, and nourish one another just as we love ourselves. Everything that we do and decide is about us not the individual. It is always about the married couple or the new family when the babies arrive.
How do we lead our family when our children are at the stage of their formative years, teenage years, left for university, children are married and with grandchildren? We need to know how much time is required to be with them during the formative years of their lives. How do we sow unconditional love into their lives to speak into their lives at teenage or adolescent years? How to let go when they are married and with grandchildren? How we lead the family at different seasons of our lives is critical. We are to adjust our expectations at different stages to keep the harmony by respecting the boundaries. When the husband-and-wife relationship is good, and the children are obedient that’s part of the abundant life! It is priceless!
Hebrews 13:5-6 (NKJV) Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you. ”So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
We must rid ourselves of any covetousness and the love of money as a Christian businessman. This is especially true when are faced with a situation to compromise our values and principles just to get the business deal. The fear of man will be like a noose that will kill or destroy our walk with the Lord. Therefore, godliness with contentment is great gain as a Christian businessman so that we will know how and when to walk away. God has made a promise in this scripture that He will always provide for us in ways beyond our imagination since He will help us, and he will not forsake us especially in bad and trying times. We will get to experience the provision of God if we abide in his word.
Sermon Series: Work on Your Well-being (Part 3)
活出丰盛生命
以弗所书 5:22-24你们做妻子的，当顺服自己的丈夫，如同顺服主； 因为丈夫是妻子的头，如同基督是教会的头，他又是教会全体的救主。 教会怎样顺服基督，妻子也要怎样凡事顺服丈夫。
神想要我们有一个蒙福的家庭。祂愿意我们的婚姻得到祝福。它应该建立在一个盟约婚姻的基础上，直到死亡将我们分开。它是丰盛生命的一部分。然而，它不是自动发生的，而是我们需要有意识地，在很多情况下否定和牺牲自己，将我们的肉体钉在十字架上。当我们在圣坛前立下结婚誓言或签署结婚文件的那一刻起，我们就终结了我们的权利、特权、条件和个人主义。婚后我们开始了在基督里成为一体的生命。我们会像爱自己一样珍惜、爱慕和滋养彼此。我们所做的和决定的一切都是关乎我们双方的，而不是个人的。它总是关乎结婚的夫妇或添丁进口的新家庭。
当我们的孩子处于性格形成期、青少年时期、离家上大学、孩子结婚并有了孙子孙女时，我们是如何在这些阶段带领我们的家庭的?我们需要知道在他们的性格形成期要有多少时间和他们在一起？我们如何在他们十几岁或青春期的时候跟他们沟通，将无条件的爱播种在他们的生命中？当他们结婚并有孙子孙女时，我们该如何放手?在人生的不同季节，我们如何带领家庭是至关重要的。我们要在不同的阶段调整我们的期望，通过尊重界限来保持和谐。当夫妻关系良好，孩子听话时，那就是丰盛生命的一部分!它是无价的!
希伯来书 13:5-6你们存心不可贪爱钱财，要以自己所有的为足；因为主曾说：“我总不撇下你，也不丢弃你。” 所以我们可以放胆说：“主是帮助我的，我必不惧怕，人能把我怎么样呢？”
作为一名基督徒商人，我们必须摆脱任何对金钱的贪爱。当我们面临为了达成交易而牺牲我们的价值观和原则的情况时，更是如此。对人的畏惧就像套索，使我们与主同行的道路毁灭。因此，作为基督徒生意人，敬虔而知足便是大利了，这样我们就会知道如何以及何时收手。神在这段经文中应许，祂会以超乎我们想象的方式为我们预备，因为祂既不撇弃我们，也不丢弃我们，尤其是在艰难困苦的时候。若我们常在祂的话语里，我们将会经历神的供应。
讲章系列：为你的幸福而努力（第三部分）