Marriage's Death Row - Part 8 - Quarrelling

When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
Gal 5:19-21 NLT

It's uncomfortable, it's distracting, it's embarrassing and it's damaging to marriages. You know what I mean. Who among us has never been in the presence of a couple while they are quarrelling with each other? Most of us, undoubtedly, have.

How often have we witnessed this and either wanted to rush out of the room or blow a whistle and get in between the couple?

What is it about wanting to be right, wanting to win, wanting our own way that provokes us to lay aside our love, care and concern for our spouse, in order to prevail in an argument?

Every couple will disagree about something at some point; however, that disagreement does not have to escalate into an argument or a quarrel. That is true, unless we choose to knowingly and willfully take the low road and fuel the escalation by what we think, say and do.

So, how do we keep arguments, quarrels, strife and discord from invading and damaging our marriage? I like The Message Paraphrase's answer in Romans 12.

Be good friends who love deeply;

practice playing second fiddle.

Rom 12:10 - The Message

When we prefer to show love to our spouse over winning an argument, over being right, over getting our own way and over our selfish pride - the root of all of these things, we put this desire of the sinful nature on marriage's death row.

How are you purposely going to lock up this sinful desire in your marriage?

For Marriages & Families,

Dave