All Eyes Are On You

When we are married, all eyes are on you. Your spouse is looking to see how you’ll respond to each situation and when you have children, they are especially and looking to see how mom and dad react towards each other. Not only that but as soon as you step outside the comfort and privacy of your home, everyone is watching. They watch to see how you treat your spouse, how you treat your kids, and so forth. If you are a Christian you have a bigger responsibility to act a certain way in all aspects of your life. Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person. Colossians 4:5-6. When problems arise in our marriage, and they will, our kids are watching our every move. Our kids are like little sponges, soaking up how we react to stressful or difficult situations. When you have two sinful people in a marriage, responding to each other in sinful ways, what do you think we are teaching our children? We are teaching them how to respond negatively to the one person they love the most in the world. But what if we showed our children how even if you are being treated poorly, whether by your spouse, or anyone else, then they can be armed with the qualities that God finds appealing?

In this life, we will be mistreated. How we respond to that mistreatment says a lot about who we are and what we believe. Just because your spouse is treating you poorly, doesn’t mean you need to respond back in the same way. Actually, the bible tells us not to respond that way. Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel. Philippians 1:27. Ultimately we are here on this earth to please God, to hear those words “well done good and faithful servant” when we leave this life. Everything we do, and the ways we act should be glorifying to God. We cannot behave in a glorifying way if we are constantly keeping score of who’s the better Christian, and who has done more right than wrong.

There may be times in your life when your spouse or your children will need correction. How you go about the correction will play a huge role in how they respond to it. Oftentimes, when we point out areas that people need to work on, they often respond with ways that you too need to be improving. Yet do this with gentleness and reverence, keeping a clear conscience, so that when you are accused, those who disparage your good conduct in Christ will be put to shame. 1 Peter 3:16. No matter what areas need refining, the spotlight will be shown back on you. How will you defend your actions and your behavior? All of us are sinners, yes, but are we actively living our lives in a way that’s glorifying to God? Can it be seen in us, that we are trying to live a righteous life? With so many eyes on us, scrutinizing, whether they mean to or not, we must stay focused on Christ as our true north. If we don’t, we will end up the way of course with a difficult time and energy needed to right the ship.