Self-preservation vs Self-exaltation (Pt.2)

It's godly when men want to know how to meet the needs of their wife. (and vice versa) This is an indication of a humble heart. Some men "get it", but many don't. It's the other way around too! We don't think alike. We don't have the same perspective on life, therefore we must make every effort to educate ourselves and then serve one another in love. This makes for a balanced and more complete couple (Eph 5:31>2=1). Many marriages end tragically in divorce for these reasons>"I don't love you anymore", or "he doesn't make me happpy", or something along these lines. God doesn't permit divorce and remarriage in this case (1 Cor. 7). The Bible gives clear instructions for marriage success (Eph 5:21-29). (Note: husbands look at your instructions and wives look at yours!) When one is in a situation where their mate doesn't "get it", or their friend, or their relative, etc., then that one can get supplemented in their relationship with God. No one should ever take God's first place filling our needs. No one will ever be able to fully accomplish this task. There are too many scriptures to list re: the fact that God wants to and should meet our every need. Putting God and His ways first sets us up for pleasant surprises along the way, not to mention eternal blessings. I'll call this GODLY SELF-PRESERVATION or GSP. When we look for someone or something to fulfill us rather than God, we are setting ourselves up for a let down. I'll call this FLESHLY SELF-PRESERVATION OR FSP. God wants to be our source (Phil.4:12), He wants us to focus our love on Him (Mk. 12:30), He wants us to serve Him by serving and loving others (Lk 10:27; Gal 5:13 AMP), and in God's love we are secure and satisfied in life and in our relationships (GSP). The reason we "can't get no satisfaction" is because we won't get it. It's our choice. God is there for us in every way we need Him (within the bounds of His Word). GSP says, "I must preserve my hope, joy, strength, and faith to the glory of God and for His purposes". FSP says, "I'm going to lose my mind if I don't..." or "I'm not going to take this!", "I don't deserve this!" Or something like, "I can't, I won't, or I hate...!" Who is the common denominator in this scenario? "I" or "it's all about me". And the attitude smells of flesh (Gal 5:16-17 ). It's human nature to preserve one's self, but we must take on a higher nature as Christians, God's nature. (*2 Peter 1:1-12 Amp). This passage is too long to type here but you must read it. I will bring out some of the highlights. "May grace and peace be multiplied to you...For His divine power has bestowed on us His precious and exceedingly great promises, so that you may escape from the moral decay that is in the world...and become sharers in the divine nature...employ every effort in exercising your faith to develop virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection...For IF these qualities are yours and increasingly abound in you, they will keep you...unto the knowledge of Jesus Christ...whoever lacks these qualities is blind...So I intend to remind you of these things, although you know them...". We must constantly remind ourselves of these things. We must encourage one another with these things. *2 Peter 1:11 encourages us with these words,"...Thus there will be richly and abundantly provided for you (who possess these qualities) entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." That's reassuring! We need to humble ourselves and trust that God's way works! We may not know in this lifetime all of the effects our decisions make, but certainly we will in the next. In conclusion, 1 John 3: 22 says, "...we receive from Him whatever we ask, because we obey His orders and (habitually) practice what is pleasing to Him." He loves us so much, and wants to bless us. We must let Him prove Himself to us. As we obey Him, we then see His faithfulness, we will receive a testimony for His glory, and we will overcome this world (Rev. 12:11) . We need to live it like we believe it! If we believe it, live it, then we will see it!