We’re considering what it means to fight for the most important relationships in life, rather than fighting in these relationships.

All of us have important relationships in our lives that can be strengthened by learning and applying biblical principles to them.

If key relationships in your life are going to be a priority, it will require a specific commitment of time and energy. At the end of the day, there’s only so much time and energy to make it happen.

So what are the relational priorities in your life? You’re trying to be a good dad/mom. You want to be a good employee. You’re trying to be a good husband or wife, a good son or daughter. Who doesn’t want to be a good neighbor and friend? With so many possibilities, sometimes, it feels like we are not succeeding in any of them.

In moments like these, we can begin traveling some very unhealthy paths. It often begins by throwing ourselves a pity party. We begin thinking, “Not only am I not being what I need to be for everybody else, but I can’t remember the last time I did anything for me. I can’t remember the last time I had fun or did something I wanted to do.”

This kind of thinking can lead to a relational hazard where I begin thinking the most important person in my life is me and I become consumed with my personal wants, needs and desires.

People are often driven by selfishness and self-centeredness. What if you decided to make a commitment to give yourself up? What if you decided to stop making excuses for selfishness? What if the most selfish thing you do in your marriage or other relationships is to focus on ending your own selfishness?

What if you decide to treat your own self-centeredness as the main problem in your marriage? That decision alone could end a lot of your marriage and relationship problems.

Who is the most important person in your life? Who is the most important person in your marriage? We have to fight against the temptation to make ourselves No. 1. You have to fight to put others first. Whatever you do, don’t let selfishness win.

For those who are married, are you willing to look your spouse in the eye and say, “This week, no matter what happens, I will treat you as the most important person in my life?” You can’t say that and mean it and not remember it when important decisions have to be made about time, money or priorities.

You may read Steve Greene’s blog at pastorgreene.wordpress.com or you can email him at [email protected].