Even a trip to the grocery store can be a debate in a
marriage. Hailee and I were young in our relationship when it came time to go
grocery shopping. We went to the store and started to grab things to buy,
except there was one main difference. I would grab the store brand and Hailee
would grab the name brand. Soon we stop the cart and it was on.
As a kid, our mom was a thrift shopper. She either had a
coupon or we bought store brand for everything we bought. Hailee grew up if
there was something she wanted, she would just throw it in the cart, therefore
she was used to getting name brand on everything. While we were extremely new
to this relationship, this was one of our first conflicts. Who would win?
I started my case based off being cheap and better tasting.
The price was so much cheaper for the store brand and basically was better. I
grew up on Meijer’s Mac and Cheese to the point when I was in middle and high
school my Mom bought a case or two of it because we went through it so quickly.
Hailee on the other hand loved Kraft Mac and Cheese, she said that it was worth
the extra money and tasted so much better. So we ended up compromising, we went
half and half. We would either mix the two boxes together or we would split
times having Kraft or Store Brand. Marriage is when two worlds collide.
There is a reason the phrase For richer, for poorer is in the wedding vows. Everyone would like
to say we are going to make an abundance of money and we will live happily ever
after, but often that is not the case. There is no easy button in life or
marriage. Money is still the number 1 reason for divorce in this country. This
isn’t because you have it or you don’t but how you handle your money. Are you
willing to give up money for marriage? How much is love worth to you?
There is a great phrase, “Love Costs Everything.” Love and
Marriage requires us not to care about winning the fight but winning the
relationship. Most fights are over stupid and pointless things. What are you
willing to give up in order to have a successful marriage? How important is
money?
When we look at relationships, Jesus was willing to give up
everything for us. 2 Corinthians 8:9…
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that
though he was rich, yet for your sake he become poor, so that you through his
poverty might become rich.”
Jesus didn’t have to come to earth and take the burdens of
our sin yet he did. Jesus took our sins on the cross for us. He became poor.
Jesus took on our debt so that we could be rich in life. Jesus thought we were
so worth the cost, he died for us. We are rich in life because he came to earth
as a humble servant and died for us like the Secret Service is putting their
life on the line for the President.
Great sacrifices have great rewards. Sacrifice and
compromise is key for any marriage to survive. What sacrifices have you made
for your spouse and expected nothing in return? The more we do this, the better
the marriage will be. I read a line, “You have to invest in a marriage for it
to be worth the investment.” It’s the same way with faith.
Jesus died and rose on the cross for us. Investing your life
into Christ is the single biggest decision you can ever make (Choosing the
right spouse is second to me). You can have eternal life. Jesus became a servant
who took your sins for you. All you have to do is accept him as your personal
Lord and Savior. This week is Easter, the time to learn about the greatest
sacrifice ever made. Find a church, find out about the greatest sacrifice that
was made for you.
Have a great day.
