OPPOSITES: A GOOD THING

OPPOSITES: A GOOD THING I. THE PHRASE: OPPOSITES “ATTRACT.” A. WHO SAID: “MEN ARE FROM MARS AND WOMEN ARE FROM VENUS?” B. WE ARE ATTRACTED TO EACH OTHER, LIKE “MAGNETS.” II. THE TRUTH: MARRIAGE REQUIRES A LEVEL OF SINCERE COMMITMENT. A. GENESIS 2:7,15,18,21-22 B. WE DON’T ALWAYS “VALUE” OUR DIFFERENCES. C. IT IS OUR DIFFERENCES THAT SERVE TO COMPLEMENT AND COMPLETE US. D. VALUING OUR DIFFERENCES INSTEAD OF ALLOWING THEM TO BECOME AREAS OF CONFLICT, ENABLES US TO ESTABLISH THE “ONENESS” GOD HAS DESIGNED. III. WE MUST INCORPORATE INTO OUR MARRIAGE GOOD MANAGEMENT SKILLS. A. GENESIS 2:24 KJV B. PHRASE: “DON’T “CLEAVE” UNTIL YOU ARE WILLING TO “LEAVE.” C. TO ESTABLISH THE ONENESS GOD WANTS US TO EXPERIENCE, WE MUST LEAVE ALL RELATIONSHIPS. D. IN-LAW CONFLICTS RANK AMONG THE TOP 5 OF NEWLYWEDS CONFLICTS. IV. PARENTS ARE OFTEN UNWILLING TO RELEASE THEIR GROWN CHILDREN TO BECOME ONE WITH THEIR SPOUSE. A. CLEAVING WITHOUT LEAVING MAKES BECOMING ONE IMPOSSIBLE. B. OFFER ADVICE ONLY WHEN BOTH MARRIAGE PARTNERS ARE SEEKING ADVICE. V. WHEN WE DON’T SEE EYE TO EYE ON A DECISION, GOD IS TRYING TO TELL US SOMETHING: A. THE DECISION ISN’T RIGHT; TIMING ISN’T RIGHT; GOD HAS SOMETHING BETTER! B. COMPATIBILITY IS NO GUARANTEE. C. IF YOU AND YOUR SPOUSE ARE OPPOSITES, BEGIN THANKING GOD FOR THOSE DIFFERENCES AND VALUE THEM.