Ana and I have been blessed with a wonderful marriage. After over the 34 years my heart still does a little jump of joy when she walks in the room. We’re each other’s best friend and are never happier than when we’re together. We not only love each other, we also like each other.
So what is the secret to our happy marriage? We put Jesus at the center and the other person first. The only times we have trouble is when one or the other of us forgets this and gets selfish, putting their own interests over the interests of the other. Then tempers flare, words fly, and, when it’s all over, a lot of damage repair has to be done.
Can you imagine how much happier this world would be if we all put each other first? No more divorce, angry voices, hurt feelings, or broken homes. Even famine, crime and war would disappear. A pipe dream? Maybe, but when Jesus comes again, that’s how it will be. I can’t wait!
Until then we can go a long way towards improving our marriages and other relationships by following Paul’s advice to “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” (Philippians 2:3-4 NIV)
To have successful relationships we need to “have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant…” (v. 5-7).
Jesus put us first and He wants us to do the same for each other. He longs for us to be “like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.” (v. 2). But this kind of transformation can only come about when we put Jesus first in our lives, accepting His sacrifice as payment for our sins, and letting His Spirit work in our hearts each day.
This Valentine’s Day, give yourself a gift, give Jesus your heart. Then, along with the candy kisses and pretty cards, give the one you love the greatest gift of all – put ’em first!