““Marriage is Marriage is challenging but it’s challenging but it’s not complicated.”not complicated.”

Focusing more on the Focusing more on the “feelings of love” “feelings of love” rather than on the rather than on the “power of love.”“power of love.”

Temptation No. 1Temptation No. 1

1 Corinthians 13:4-71 Corinthians 13:4-744 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not Love is patient, love is kind. It does not

envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 55 It is It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily

angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 66 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. the truth. 77 It always protects, always trusts, It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.always hopes, always perseveres. 88 Love Love

never fails…never fails…

Focusing on getting Focusing on getting more from you rather more from you rather than on giving all to than on giving all to

you.you.

Temptation No. 2Temptation No. 2

1 John 4:9-101 John 4:9-1099 This is how God showed his love among This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the us: He sent his one and only Son into the

world that we might live through him. world that we might live through him. 1010 This This is love: not that we loved God, but that he is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning loved us and sent his Son as an atoning

sacrifice for our sins.sacrifice for our sins.

Focusing always and Focusing always and only on my feelings only on my feelings rather than focusing rather than focusing first on your feelings.first on your feelings.

Temptation No. 3Temptation No. 3

Matthew 5:23-24Matthew 5:23-242323 "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at

the altar and there remember that your the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, brother has something against you, 2424 leave leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go your gift there in front of the altar. First go

and be reconciled to your brother; then and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. come and offer your gift.

Focusing more on Focusing more on your problems rather your problems rather than on our mutual than on our mutual win-win solutions.win-win solutions.

Temptation No. 4Temptation No. 4

Matthew 7:3-5Matthew 7:3-533 "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? the plank in your own eye? 44 How can you How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? plank in your own eye? 55 You hypocrite, first You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then take the plank out of your own eye, and then

you will see clearly to remove the speck you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. from your brother's eye.

Focusing only on Focusing only on action to express my action to express my love rather than on love rather than on words and action words and action

together.together.

Temptation No. 5Temptation No. 5

James 2:14-17James 2:14-171414 What good is it, my brothers, if a man What good is it, my brothers, if a man

claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? such faith save him? 1515 Suppose a brother or Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. sister is without clothes and daily food. 1616 If If

one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing keep warm and well fed," but does nothing

about his physical needs, what good is it? about his physical needs, what good is it? 1717 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not

accompanied by action, is dead. accompanied by action, is dead.

The Five TemptationsThe Five Temptations• Focusing more on the “feelings of love” Focusing more on the “feelings of love”

rather than on the “power of love.”rather than on the “power of love.”• Focusing on getting more from you rather Focusing on getting more from you rather

than on giving all to you.than on giving all to you.• Focusing always and only on my feelings Focusing always and only on my feelings

rather than focusing on your feelings first.rather than focusing on your feelings first.• Focusing more on your problems rather Focusing more on your problems rather

than on our mutual win-win solutions.than on our mutual win-win solutions.• Focusing only on action to express my Focusing only on action to express my

love rather than on words and action love rather than on words and action together.together.

The Five DecisionsThe Five Decisions• Focus more on the “power of Focus more on the “power of

love.”love.”• Focus on giving all.Focus on giving all.• Focus on your spouse’s feelings Focus on your spouse’s feelings

first.first.• Focus on mutual win-win Focus on mutual win-win

solutions.solutions.• Focus on words and action to Focus on words and action to

express your love.express your love.

““Marriage is Marriage is challenging but it’s challenging but it’s not complicated.”not complicated.”