|
Marital
Moments
We have
just
completed
a series
of
thoughts
on
Listening
In
Communication.
Today
let's
begin
thinking
about
Speaking
In
Communication. James
1:19
addresses
this
important issue.
There
the
Bible
says,
"Let
every
man
be swift
to hear,
slow to
speak, and slow to
wrath". While
this
verse declares
that one should be slow
to
speak, he must,
however, be willing
to speak
and to
share
the
thoughts
of
his
heart
with his
spouse.
He must
be
"slow to
wrath."
That is,
he must
not
become
angry at
the things
that are
being
said.
The word "wrath" in the Greek
language
does not
mean a
sudden
outburst
of
temper,
but a
deep
resentment
that
seethes
and
smolders
often
unnoticed
by
others.
In the
text of
James
1:19 the
thought
is,
that if
we would
have
good
heavenly
communication
then we must
listen
more,
talk
less,
and never become
angry at the
things
God
is relating to us in
His
word. If we
would
have
good earthly
communication then we must do
the
same:
listen
more,
speak less,
and
never become
angry at
the things
that are
spoken.
James
3:1-12
provides
the married
couple with
some
vitally important
information about
the use
of one's tongue.
It
is
from
this
passage
that
we
will
discover
our
thoughts
for this Marital
Moment.
In these
verses we find
that
"Speaking
Is
Vitally
Important
To The Marriage
Relationship". (1)
Speaking is used to exchange
information.
In James 3:1
we find
the word
"masters".
This
means
teacher.
Just as
the
teacher uses her
voice to
exchange
information
with
her
students,
so the
married
couple
must use
their voice to
exchange information
with
each
other.
The
"teacher"
provides
infor-mation
about
her
subject
to her
students.
The
husband
/ wife
must
provide informa-tion
to their mate about
their
life,
day, career,
and
heart.
They
must
give
important
truths
about
their
hurts,
difficulties,
feelings,
and
their
emotions.
Without
this
honest
exchange
of
information
the
relationship
soon
grows
cold and
callous.
(2) Speaking
is used
to complete
the
relationship. In verse two we find the
word "perfect"
which means to be complete. Being able to communicate completes the relationship.
There
are
no
hidden
areas.
There
are
no
troubled
thoughts
about
what the
other
one is
doing. No
unanswered
questions
that
linger
in the
heart.
When the
husband
and wife
are
both
free
with
their communication,
then the
marriage
is completed
by the
wonderful ability
to
honestly
and
openly communicate. (3)
Speaking enables
one to solve
problems in the
relationship.
In James
3:3 we find
the thought about the
bit in
the
horse's
mouth.
The bit
in
the mouth of the
horse enables the rider to solve
the
problem
of
controlling
the
horse. I am not suggesting putting
a bit in your
wife
or
husband's
mouth
to control
him or her, but the idea I want
to get
across
is just as the
bit solves
the
problem
of
controlling
the
horse,
so
communication
solves
the
problems
that
confront
the
marriage. Without
meaningful communication the
marriage
is out
of
control.
Problems
remain
unsolved.
Emotions remain
unchecked.
Hurt's
remain
unhealed.
(4)
Speaking is
important
in order to secure
the relation-ship.
In verse
four we
find the
word
"helm".
The helm of the ship steers the ship
away from the
rocks,
shallows,
storms
and other obstacles
that
would destroy the
vessel. Likewise, communication steers
the
marriage away from the
many
trouble
spots
that
would
scar and
mar the
beautiful
relationship.
Unfortunately,
this world is a dangerous place for the ship of
marriage.
There
are many
dangerous ports that
neither
the
husband
nor
the wife should visit.
There are many storms that
arise on the sea of
life that would
toss
about
the marriage
and destroy
it.
There are many
other vessels
that would lure one
away
from the desired
haven.
However,
communication
is the
vitally important
ingredient that secures
the
relationship
and
allows
it to
sail safely
through, around, and
beyond the many dangers that
confront the marital
relationship.
Just remember
that,
"Speaking
is
Vitally
Important
To The
Marriage
Relationship".
|
