Sunday, March 20, 2022

Balanced or Off Balance?

 

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

"The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart exults, And with my song I shall thank Him" (Psalm 28:7).  "Do not be grieved for the joy of the Lord is your strength" (Nehemiah 8:10).

 Hey Gang:  I am a balanced therapy addict!  I have refrained from using the word "therapy" because of the connotations that it surfaces in many minds.  I would rather have people look at their lives from the platform of experience.  I am also an advocate of looking at all of life situations from the standpoint of a three-point triangle that includes Values, Choices and Destinations.

 And what do I mean by balanced.  There is no denying the fact that we are going to run into 'Back-Against-The-Wall, Alligators up to our armpits, and clinkers in our path on a fairly regular basis.  I have come to this conclusion:  when we allow the negatives to override the positives, we are going to get clobbered!

 I believe, if all couples who were contemplating marriage were compelled to read Gary Smalley's book The Language of Love, it would provide a foundation on which to build a relationship within the marriage.  He introduces the concept of a ‘Love Bank’, which we have shared with many couples and families.  What in the world is that?  It is the same as your checking account with your local bank only it pertains to human behaviors. 

 When we do something good for our mate or child, that is a deposit in your love bank account and when there is a disagreement, you make a withdrawl from your love bank account.  It is sad that so many couples get into deep financial problems because they think that must have all the bangles and beads the world offers.  And that same attitude prevails in many marriages. When the withdrawals, financial or loving, exceed the deposits, trouble is close at hand!

 The basics of the Love Bank or the ‘tie that binds’ is found in Ecclesiastes 9:4-9; the Preacher writes about a strand of three that binds the husband and the wife and the Holy Spirit together.  A strand of three is so much stronger than a strand of two! And when the two are not bound through a love bank principle, it is a strand of one plus one, and breaking a strand of one, is a piece of cake, especially when there is no Holy Spirit in the life of that one.

 Love Bank’ principles are found throughout the Bible.  Jesus was a constant planter of deposits in all those who loved Him and called Him Lord.  His greatest contribution to your Love Bank was His willingness to lay down His life that you might be freed from the bondage of sin.  He said, "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for friends" (John 15:13).

  I have heard it said a zillion times that marriage is a 50 - 50 proposition.  To that I shout "balderdash".  First, marriage is not a proposition, it is a lay down your life commitment: second, it is not 50-50 it is 100% - zip.  If you are not willing to lay down your life for that special person God united you with, go fishing instead of to the altar.

 Jesus, "the way, the truth, and the life" gave us clear instructions in the proper procedures for our Love BankHe said, "For I was hungry, and you fed me;I was thirsty, and you gave me drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in; naked and you clothed me; sick and you visited me; in prison and you came to Me."  (Matt. 25:35-36).  When questioned about doing these things, Jesus responded, "…to the extent you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, you did it to Me" (Vs. 40).  Even our spouse and family!

 Soooo, Jesus removed any excuse we might muster for not going into all the world or even our neighbor! He said, "I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, that they are white for harvest" (John 4:35) He also said, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few" (Matt. 9:37).  What say ye?  Are you a laborer for Jesus?  Is it time to do an accounting on your Love Bank?

 Blessings,

Gramps

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