What is Wrong with Your Marriage?

There are a number of theories about what causes most marital troubles--money, children, time, sexual

intimacy etc. It has often been argued that money problems are the number one cause of divorce. Fair

enough--certainly misuse of or disagreements on the use of money can result in a tremendous amount

of conflict inside of marriage. However, I want to cite a different culprit at the heart marital discord--

people. The number one problem inside of marriage is the husband and the wife.

Let me be clear: if your marriage isn't what you want it to be, if you don't feel that your marriage is

circumstances or differing personalities or lack of compatibility--if your marriage isn't healthy--its your

fault. I believe the same about my marriage--when there is strife in my marriage, I am to examine my

own heart.

and there is a good chance that right now you are thinking that I don't know what I am talking about

because the problems in your marriages are chiefly your spouses fault. That may or may not be true,

probably it is both your faults, but the Bible is pretty clear o the fact that we are incapable of changing

other people and very clear that by faith God will change those who seek Him. Further God “opposes

the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). So before you lump your marital difficulties on

your spouse--why not take the log out of your own eye (Matt. 7:3-5) and trust God to transform the

state of your marriage?

If you still don't believe me that its your fault, let me prove it to you from Scripture:

And [Jesus] said, "What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the

heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting,

wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come

from within, and they defile a person." -Mark 7:20-23

This shouldn't surprise us. What happened in the first marriage when Adam and Eve were caught in

sin? They immediately began to blame shift. Adam says, "my wife gave me this fruit and I ate it" and

Eve says, "Satan gave me this fruit and I ate it" ( Gen 3:12-13 my paraphrase). Why can't they fess

up? It is their own pride and selfishness that keeps them from admitting their failures and it is this

same pride that moves them from being "naked and unashamed" to covering themselves and hiding

from God (Gen 3:7-11).

Nakedness in Scripture is a sign of being exposed, open, and intimate. Sin has ruined intimacy inside

of marriage. Marriage was created to be a "one flesh" relationship where the husband and wife share

all things in common and are completely open and honest with one another. The intimacy for which

God created marriage is far more than physical intimacy, it is also physical and spiritual.

So how can the intimacy God designed to be experienced inside of marriage be restored from all the

damage sin and selfishness has caused it? The answer is the gospel, by which all our sins, including

those committed inside of marriage are paid for, such that when we believe on Christ we bear them no

more because of His sacrifice on the cross. The gospel leads us to a "godly grief that leads to salvation

without regret" (2 Cor. 7:10). Inside of marriage this means that the gospel frees us from hiding from

our failures and moves us to instead confess them and repent from them. Thus the gospel frees us to

move toward the intimacy (though not without setbacks) we are meant to experience inside of

marriage.

Only the gospel can truly move a man to apologize without making excuses. Only the gospel can free

us from our slavery to the sin of selfishness that refuses to recognize wrong-doing and renew the image

of God in us that will lead us to Christ-exalting intimacy and joy no matter what the circumstances we

find ourselves in.

The problem with your marriage and my marriage is not compatibility issues, circumstance, or

misunderstanding, the problem is you and the problem is me. You cannot change your spouse but God

your marriage to grow in joy and intimacy and thus display gospel of Jesus Christ (Eph. 5:25-27).

Tuesday, March 15-16.

students will help us as well. We will wash cars and hand out gospel tracts and raise money

for Bible translation for unreached people groups. The car wash will go from 12:00 to

3:00. That night we will have a Bible Study and Student Fellowship at Drew's house from

6:00 to 8:30 P.M. (Food will be provided at the Fellowship). We will need people to

volunteer to bring hoses, buckets, and any other car wash supplies that you might be able to

help with.

Mission in Huntsville. We will help serve lunch there from 10:30 to 1:00. We will go eat

lunch afterward then head to the Benton H. Wilcoxon Memorial Ice Complex in Huntsville

to play broom hockey. Cost will be $10 per person. Bring extra money for lunch, we will

eat somewhere fast.

Contact Eric Hixon for more details.

and have a glow-in-the dark Easter egg hunt. We will cook hot dogs on the fire make smores.

10:00, Drew and Jennifer are going to tell the resurrection story and there will be a egg hunt for the

children and a church-wide picnic afterward. Last year everyone brought their own picnic food

and drinks. This year we are open to doing things differently, we could do a cookout and have

people volunteer to bring items. Let Drew, Regina, or Denise know if you have a preference.

offices that they are asking us to fill with spare change. See Jennifer Dixon if you have any

questions.

morning.

tumor that affects the pituitary gland causing hormone imbalance and headaches. It can also put

pressure on the optic nerve, causing vision problems. The good news is that it isn't cancerous. The

bad news is that she may have to deal with the affects of the tumor for life. Please pray for the

doctors that the Lord will lead them to the best treatment.

pray for Denise as she is trying to help her mother as much as possible.

her.

If you are interested in supporting M.U.D. Ministries, please contact Eric Hixon at

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

If you would like to get in touch with the Teague’s, you can contact them at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

They are working United World Missions. The website is www.unitedworldmission.org.

Attendance: Worship Service - 63

Offering: General - 8,731.42