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Hot Thoughts, Part 3: Reclaiming Unity in Marriage, When Money Builds Walls · Couples’ Journey Podcast Channel

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  Are your finances and priorities truly in line with God's design for marriage?
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  Welcome to part three of Couples Journey blog series podcast entitled, Hot Thoughts.
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  Today, Rey reflects on how pride and self-centeredness can subtly influence
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  even our most practical decisions, like how we handle money and threaten the
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  unity that God desires for our marriages. Here's Rey.
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  We are destroying speculation, every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of Christ.
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  And we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
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  2 Corinthians 10, verse 5 There is a lot that can be said about this verse.
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  But how do we grasp its true essence in the context of marriage?
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  And how can we sincerely apply it? As I reflect on this verse,
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  along with other biblical insight Annie and I have discussed this week,
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  it reminded me of how we handle finances as a married couple.
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  Today, it's become the norm for both husband and wife to contribute income to
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  meet the family's needs.
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  This decision often comes with many acceptable and logical reasons,
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  many of which Annie and I have considered.
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  But if we're not intentional about the risk attached to this choice,
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  especially how it affects God's beautiful design for our role,
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  we can easily fall into the temptation of measuring sacrifice and creating a division.
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  We risk reaching a point where there's a clear separation of finances between husband and wife.
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  Essentially compromising God's intended unity.
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  You might even fall into the mindset of being just roommates.
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  And little did we realize that tolerating this mindset can secretly feed pride
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  and self-centeredness.
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  At first, I didn't see the deep connection between pride and self-centeredness,
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  and this seemingly logical, common practice in many marriages today.
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  It wasn't until we experienced our own struggles and learned what God truly
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  means by unity that we saw its impact.
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  We started out with a sincere goal to provide a better life for our family,
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  but disregarding God's truth and neglecting Him as the true provider.
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  We overlook how this affected our relationship with Him and our children.
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  We were so busy jogging jobs that we started losing our connection with them.
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  In Matthew 19, verse 4 to 6 says,
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  And he answered and said, Have you not read that he who created them from the
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  beginning made them male and female, and said for this reason,
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  A man shall live his father and mother to be joined with his wife,
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  and two shall become one flesh so they are no longer two but one flesh but therefore
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  God has joined together that no man separate.
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  This verse makes it clear that husband and wife to be united under God's authority
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  completely in every aspect, including finances.
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  However, in today's world, that's often easier said than done.
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  When God brought this truth to us, it humbled Annie and me deeply.
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  We're still making adjustments, facing challenges with how to align our income flow with God's design.
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  But through it all, we've seen how God faithfully provides and sustains us with many testimonies.
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  If we're unwilling to humble ourselves to recognize the authority given to Jesus
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  Christ, we won't experience His presence deeply in our marriage or life.
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  And if you've already accepted Jesus Christ, but find yourself holding back
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  obedience in this area, I encourage you to take a moment,
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  pause, reflect, and ask God to saturate your heart with the message of the gospel.
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  Revisit what Christ did on the cross and examine whether you're truly pursuing eternal life.
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  Fellow husband, it might seem daunting or even impossible to make this radical change,
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  but the real challenge and the true victory is in releasing pride and self-centeredness
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  that flow from our sinful nature.
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  Let's commit to a life and marriage rooted in humility, submitting daily to
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  Christ's authority, depending on God's grace, and striving to become more like him.
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  This ongoing transformation starts with a decision, and it's one only we can make.
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  Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not
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  grow weary." Galatians 6 verse 9,
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  before we close we want to invite you to engage with us and support the couples
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  journey blog series podcast by following this channel leaving comments and sharing
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  episodes with your family and friends you're helping us in our mission to transform
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  marriages today your support
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  encourages more couples to seek God's guidance and grow stronger together.
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  Learn more about this movement on the website www.couplesjourney.org.
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  Thank you for being part of this journey. Together, we can make a difference.
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  Here's the final part of today's episode.
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  As we wrap up today's reflection, remember that genuine obedience involves surrendering
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  our pride and aligning every part of our marriage under Christ's authority.
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  Rey invites us to keep examining our hearts and trusting God's faithfulness.
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  Stay tuned tomorrow as we hear Annie's reflections in this week's theme. Have a blessed day.