There is a guy on Facebook named Chad Sexton who gives what he calls “Expert Marriage Tips.”  Most of his advice would deserve him being hit in the head with a cast iron skillet. His wife just sits in the background, usually sipping her coffee and shaking her head in disbelief. Through humor he points out a lot of dumb things people do in relationships that cause problems.

I remember at our wedding rehearsal, my dad told Cheryl that his message the next day was going to be based on this passage:

Proverbs 21:9 (KJV It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, Than with a brawling woman in a wide house.

By the way, Proverbs 25:24 is exactly the same. If it is in there twice, it must be true! Of course, you could say the same thing about a “brawling husband.” I wonder if that passage was the inspiration for the song from the early sixties by the Drifters, “Up on the Roof.”??? And no. that was not the text of his wedding sermon.

Relationships, including marriage, are subject to conflict. Most often this happens because of a lack of communication. Many times both parties think they are doing the right thing, but they have not consulted with each other, and that is when the fight starts.

Open and honest communication goes a long way toward resolving conflict. But it needs to be a two way street, both parties sharing and listening to each other. And someone has to be willing to take the first step.

In resolving the conflict we had with God, we did not take the first step. Or the second, third or fourth. In fact, God is the one who did what was needed to resolve the conflict. He promised to send a Savior right after the Fall in the Garden of Eden. He repeated that promise over and over again, saying this Savior would come through Abraham, Jacob and David.  And then He kept His Word by sending the Word made flesh. Jesus earned our forgiveness and conquered death for us all. All we do is receive what He offers by faith. And once we are in that faith relationship, we strive to thank Him by living as the people God wants us to be. We need a good relationship with God, and part of that is working on our relationships with other people, too.