"The Habits of Unhealthy Marriages"

Pastor Laura Guy

September 9, 2007

Here's an instant replay of what happened in worship:

We thought about how good habits make us stronger and healthier, while bad habits have a detrimental effect on our quality of life. It is the same way with the habits in our relationships.
We read Ephesians 4:25-32 and saw the way relationships are supposed to work, with problems being resolved before the sun goes down so that the hurt does not fester and grow overnight.
We looked at the bad habits that wear down relationships:
1. Disrespect - This includes criticism, contempt, even abuse. When all we see is the negative in our mate, we lose respect for him/her, and our mate feels hurt and angry. Great relationships share five positive statements for every one negative.
2. Dishonesty - Liars will eventually be caught in a lie, and the spouse will lose the ability to trust, leading to the breakdown of intimacy.
3. Disarray in finances - Financial trouble is the leading cause of divorce. When there is no financial safety net, an emergency like a car repair causes a financial crisis which can cause a relationship crisis.
4. Drug abuse (including alcohol) - Watching a loved one slowly destroy herself/himself is often too much for a spouse to endure. A couple in this situation must get help immediately.
5. Dalliances - A dalliance is "playful behavior intended to arouse sexual interest." When we have a relationship with someone else that we hide from our spouse or lie about, then we are putting our marriage in danger.
6. The "D" word - A couple should never say the "D" word (divorce) in the heat of the moment. It acts as an emotional grenade, and once it has been spoken, it cannot be unspoken. There are times when marriages must end, but that should only be after every other avenue has been explored.
We prayed that God would help us remove these bad habits from our relationships. We also prayed that the single people in the room would find relationships that avoided these bad habits from the beginning.
We shared communion, reminded of our brothers and sisters around the world who share it with us.
Join us next week in our time of worship!