Communication – 1
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Speak Truth
(Ephesians 4:17-25)
Successful marriages are all about successful communication. In fact, renowned Christian counselor Jay Adams claims that communication is “the basic skill needed to establish and maintain sound relationships.” He goes on to say that a “sound husband and wife relationship is impossible apart from communication.” That being said, husbands and wives must develop a Biblical model of interpersonal fellowship. Just such a model is described in Ephesians 4.
Paul states that communication should be honest (25). There is no place for deceit in the Christian life, much less in Christian marriage. However, several factors may hinder honesty, even in Christian marriage. For example, if one spouse senses a lack of acceptance, he may become reticent to talk fully and openly. If one experiences a lack of trust, he may hesitate to speak freely. And sometimes communication is hampered by a lack of forgiveness, the sense that the listening spouse is passing judgment on every word, storing up ammunition for future “discussions.”
Such hindrances must be overcome if marriage is to enjoy full disclosure—truly meaningful exchange. Maybe it’s time to examine your conversations. Are you speaking from the heart about important things—things that matter most? And if not, why not?
