05 August 2018
Two-Minute Features | 12 August 2018

Marriage Problem #5: Putting Children First, Part 3 (TMF:950)

Friday, August 10, 2018
Peace to Live By: Marriage Problem #5: Putting Children First, Part 3 (TMF:950) - Daniel Litton
(Tap or right-click link to download two-minute feature)

       Paul has said, “Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord” (Colossians 3:20, ESV). It should be the ultimate goal for children to want to do what their parents say. For any children who are listening, you should not argue with your parents. You shouldn’t question what they ask you to do, or what they tell you to do. It pleases God when you are obedient from the heart, when you are willing to do right with a good and honest heart. And it makes peace for everyone in your family. If you are going against your parents, this will cause a lack of harmony and peace for you, your mother and father, and any brothers or sisters you may have. You don’t want to have everyone be unhappy, do you? When you do what your parents tell you, this makes everyone happy. You may not want to do it now, but it will make you happy later that you did. When parents work very hard doing everything their children want, without taking into perspective what they need, they can become overly tired and burned out. And when a parent runs out of gas, this puts pressure on the other partner in the marriage. You may not act correctly because you’re too tired.

Marriage Problem #5: Putting Children First, Part 2 (TMF:949)

Thursday, August 09, 2018
Peace to Live By: Marriage Problem #5: Putting Children First, Part 2 (TMF:949) - Daniel Litton
(Tap or right-click link to download two-minute feature)

       For those who are not leaders, Paul said we are to imitate our leaders, so that would include doing what they do. One of the areas of managing children includes the time that is spent with the children’s extracurricular activities and things the children want to do. Children have to learn to be submissive to their fathers, just like the wife is to be submissive to her husband. Again, this is something that in American society today may be very foreign to many. The proper order that we find in the New Testament is this: first God, second spouse, and third children. Our society, here in America, has it like this: you are God, the children are second, and your spouse is third with an excess time that you have. That’s completely backward. And that’s why we see so many families in chaos with so many problems. God’s way is always the correct way. And his way brings about truly fulfilling life, life that includes success, joy, and happiness.

Marriage Problem #5: Putting Children First, Part 1 (TMF:948)

Wednesday, August 08, 2018
Peace to Live By: Marriage Problem #5: Putting Children First, Part 1 (TMF:948) - Daniel Litton
(Tap or right-click link to download two-minute feature)

       So, the final marriage problem, number five: Putting your children first. 1 Timothy 3:4, 5: “He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church?” (ESV). In writing to Timothy, Paul told him that leaders within the church needed to “manage their households well.” And that includes one keeping his children’s time in proper perspective. Really, this passage should be the aim of every believer with children in the body of Christ. For those who are not leaders, Paul said we are to imitate our leaders, so that would include doing what they do. One of the areas of managing children includes the time that is spent with the children’s extracurricular activities and things the children want to do. Children have to learn to be submissive to their fathers, just like the wife is to be submissive to her husband. Again, this is something that in American society today may be very foreign to many.

Marriage Problem #4: No Alone Time, Part 2 (TMF:947)

Tuesday, August 07, 2018
Peace to Live By: Marriage Problem #4: No Alone Time, Part 2 (TMF:947) - Daniel Litton
(Tap or right-click link to download two-minute feature)

       Just as Jesus modeled for people, individuals need to make sure they are spending time with God, and sometimes alone with God without your spouse if you are married. And sometimes, a person needs to ‘get away.’ And for couples who work together this is going to be even a greater challenge. Since you see each other at work, you are going to have to try harder to find alone time outside of work. But it still definitely can be done. And this is a good spot for friends to come in the picture. Maybe the wife would like to get away with a female friend or group of friends and take a vacation. Or the husband the same. This can be good for each person in the marriage because it allows each person to have a break and regain some strength. It can produce growth as well. Sometimes couples have to be away from each other in order to refresh their perspectives on how much they love each other. When you are constantly with the person, it is easier to take that person for granted and to lose perspective. But breaks are in fact good.

Marriage Problem #4: No Alone Time, Part 1 (TMF:946)

Monday, August 06, 2018
Peace to Live By: Marriage Problem #4: No Alone Time, Part 1 (TMF:946) - Daniel Litton
(Tap or right-click link to download two-minute feature)

       Marriage problem number four: Not having alone time. Mark 1:35: “And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he [Jesus] departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed” (ESV). Some couples just spend too much time together. The amount of time spent together definitely fluctuates from coupe to couple, but I think that most know, or will know, that you need alone from the other person. When you are around someone too much, and that includes your spouse, you are going to get tired of that person. Just as Jesus modeled for people, individuals need to make sure they are spending time with God, and sometimes alone with God without your spouse if you are married. This allows a person to clear his or her mind, and to just be alone with the most important person his or her life, which is God. And sometimes, a person needs to ‘get away.’ Now, this may mean going into a different room of the house for a while, or going to the coffee shop, but people sometimes need that physical distance.