Young Adult and Newly Married
This season brings independence, marriage, setting up a home and often the beginning of a family. Marriage creates a new family that must be protected and strengthened. It cannot survive well if both people keep insisting on having their own way.
What Scripture Says
“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24)
Ephesians 5 teaches husbands and wives about love, sacrifice, respect and responsibility. Husbands are told to love their wives “just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her” (Ephesians 5:25).
“Be angry, and do not sin: do not let the sun go down on your wrath.” (Ephesians 4:26)
Practical Advice
Put your spouse ahead of everyone else, including your parents and your friends.
Settle arguments before you go to sleep. Little offenses left alone grow into big ones.
Forgive quickly, talk openly, pray together and stay loyal. These become daily necessities, not occasional ones.
Live below your income, not above it. Make a budget together and stick to it.
Avoid credit-card debt whenever possible. Begin saving, even if the amount is small.
Talk about money openly. More marriages are strained by money than most people admit.
Make major decisions together rather than building separate lives under the same roof.
Keep going to church together. A couple that stops going together usually stops growing together.
If children come, remember they learn much more from what you do than from what you say (Deuteronomy 6:6–7).
From My Own Life
This part is still being written.
A Question to Think About
Is there anything in your home today that is more important to you than your marriage?
The lesson for this season: Build the home before trying to build everything around the home.
Go deeper: Raising Children Today · Class 15 – Words Reveal the Heart · Book: It Is Written