"You have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you—you have left your first love." —Jesus
First, ask yourself, what are your priorities in your life? Or rather, who is your priority?
Let's be honest, for most of us, our priority is us.
We seek after personal satisfaction and fulfillment in marriage, or through other relationships, always trying to get what we want from our wife or from other people. Generally speaking, most people tend to be takers, more than givers.
Many people today think that the secret of having a good marriage is about "finding the right person."
While it's true that your marriage likely won't succeed if you are with someone who really is the 'wrong' person, the truth is, having a good marriage is much more about being the right person.
How can we do that?
First, the question needs to be asked, "What are you seeking?"
If your main focus is having all of your needs met by your wife (or future wife), then you are in for a major disappointment. And that is because you are looking to another imperfect human being to do, and be, everything that you need them to be in your life, for you to be happy.
However, no human being can possibly fulfill that role.
If you profess to be a follower of Christ, is He your number one priority in all things in your life?
In most marriages, people tend to put their spouse at the top of their list of priorities, and we seek them first, and inadvertently place God off to one side... only seeking Him when things in our life go wrong. This is a recipe for failure.
Because when we place our spouse over God at the top of our list of priorities, we in effect make them an idol—which is anything or anyone that becomes more important to us than God.
Don't misunderstand, a godly wife is a wonderful gift from God. But if I am seeking her first as my primary source of happiness and fulfillment, while demoting God to a lesser place in my heart, then I am guilty of making my wife and marriage an idol.
“These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lamp stands: “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you—you have left your first love." (Revelation 2:1-4)
Jesus Himself spoke these words to a church that were doing all the right things. They were patiently laboring to be good Christians. But He said they have "left their first love." They put religious duty and other things, above a loving, personal relationship with Jesus. Please note that they did not 'lose' their first love...
They "left" their first love.
How can we do that?
First, the question needs to be asked, "What are you seeking?"
If your main focus is having all of your needs met by your wife (or future wife), then you are in for a major disappointment. And that is because you are looking to another imperfect human being to do, and be, everything that you need them to be in your life, for you to be happy.
However, no human being can possibly fulfill that role.
If you profess to be a follower of Christ, is He your number one priority in all things in your life?
In most marriages, people tend to put their spouse at the top of their list of priorities, and we seek them first, and inadvertently place God off to one side... only seeking Him when things in our life go wrong. This is a recipe for failure.
Because when we place our spouse over God at the top of our list of priorities, we in effect make them an idol—which is anything or anyone that becomes more important to us than God.
Don't misunderstand, a godly wife is a wonderful gift from God. But if I am seeking her first as my primary source of happiness and fulfillment, while demoting God to a lesser place in my heart, then I am guilty of making my wife and marriage an idol.
“These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lamp stands: “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you—you have left your first love." (Revelation 2:1-4)
Jesus Himself spoke these words to a church that were doing all the right things. They were patiently laboring to be good Christians. But He said they have "left their first love." They put religious duty and other things, above a loving, personal relationship with Jesus. Please note that they did not 'lose' their first love...
They "left" their first love.
When Jesus willingly went to die on a Cross to save us, His primary goal was to reconcile and restore us to relationship with God. He loves us and desires that we love Him, and always place Him first in our hearts.
However, so often we place other people, such as our spouse or significant other, above Him by looking to them first for our happiness and fulfillment instead of surrendering all of our needs and desires to Christ. Only God can fill the empty spaces in our hearts that we look to others to fill, who cannot possibly meet our expectations.
However, so often we place other people, such as our spouse or significant other, above Him by looking to them first for our happiness and fulfillment instead of surrendering all of our needs and desires to Christ. Only God can fill the empty spaces in our hearts that we look to others to fill, who cannot possibly meet our expectations.
As we seek a closer, spiritually intimate relationship with Jesus, the closer we will grow to God, and in so doing, we become more and more the right person for our wife.
Do you want a closer and more loving marriage? Or if you’re not married now, a godly marriage someday?
Then seek and draw near to Jesus every day, as your First Love.
And as you love Him and spend time with Him, taking on more of His character, the more you will become the right person, and your wife will desire to be closer to you—because they will see more of Jesus in you.
There is nothing more wonderful than when a husband and wife are seeking Jesus together, as their first love. The bible illustrates this kind of harmonious relationship as a "Threefold cord that is not easily broken."
But notice that it doesn't say the threefold cord cannot be broken.
No, it says it is not easily broken.
This threefold marriage relationship can be broken...if we choose to leave our first love; Jesus, and when we place our ultimate need for fulfillment and happiness in another person, instead of in the Lord.
If you have left your First Love, return to Him today and make Him first in your heart.
Do you want a closer and more loving marriage? Or if you’re not married now, a godly marriage someday?
Then seek and draw near to Jesus every day, as your First Love.
And as you love Him and spend time with Him, taking on more of His character, the more you will become the right person, and your wife will desire to be closer to you—because they will see more of Jesus in you.
There is nothing more wonderful than when a husband and wife are seeking Jesus together, as their first love. The bible illustrates this kind of harmonious relationship as a "Threefold cord that is not easily broken."
But notice that it doesn't say the threefold cord cannot be broken.
No, it says it is not easily broken.
This threefold marriage relationship can be broken...if we choose to leave our first love; Jesus, and when we place our ultimate need for fulfillment and happiness in another person, instead of in the Lord.
If you have left your First Love, return to Him today and make Him first in your heart.
Jesus deserves all of our worship, adoration and love.
—God is Love and Love Never Fails.
—God is Love and Love Never Fails.
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