Living as one in marriage starts with well-ordered priorities.
Many understand what good priorities are (God first, then spouse, then kids, then everything else), but we can live contrary to that understanding. How we live reflects true priorities. This quote is as relevant today as the day it was written; let's walk through it.
1) "Prefer the person before money." How is your work/family balance? If you or your spouse is working so much that it takes away from family time, adjustment is needed. Take a look at your lifestyle, your expenses, and your buying habits. Are the extra hours necessary? Is the money worth it? Only you can answer these questions honestly and use wisdom to live in a way that keeps your marriage a priority.
2) "Virtue before beauty." We live in a very externally focused culture. Character is often sacrificed for external appearances, and sometimes we can let those appearances affect how we love our spouses. Beauty is good and should be appreciated! But the real beauty is far deeper than what you see with your eyes. Beauty starts with your identity in Christ: who God says you are and who your spouse is. Let that "virtue" – your spouse's identity in Christ – be the focus of your affection for one another.
3) "Mind before the body." Your spouse's mind – their personality, ideas, and ways of expressing them – will only grow better with time. Your deepest affection for each other will go far beyond your bodies (though we hope you grow in your physical attractions too!). Your deepest connections happen between your hearts and minds - your beliefs, intellect, and intuition. Prefer your spouse's mind; prefer their soul. When you do, you prefer the deepest parts of them.
We pray that you and your spouse grow deeper together as you learn to live as one. Most of all, we pray that you see each other as God sees you: lovely, cherished, and full of value in Christ.
PHIL & LIZ 4-11-15
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