Being "First" In Your Mate's Heart

Brother Steve Fontenot, one of the writers for the "Think On These Things" publication, has written an excellent article (January-February-March, 2014, vol. 45, no. 1 edition), regarding the need for marriage partners to put their mate "first" in their marriage relationship.

He writes:

A man wants and needs to know he is "first" in his wife's heart, and a woman likewise needs the assurance that she is the priority of her man's love. If both parties are not ready for this change in allegiance when they marry, they are not ready for marriage. Men and women who are not demonstrating and cultivating this priority to their mates, need to repent.

He continues:

Just as a relationship with an employer may deteriorate if attention and devotion to job declines, so the relationship with a mate will deteriorate when it is no longer given first priority with the daily devotion and attention that demands.

Dear reader, if we are married, let us, as brother Fontenot has pointed out in his above statements, put our mate "first" in our heart. Giving our mate "first" place above any in-laws, children or employer, keeps the relationship between husband and wife strong (Genesis 2:23-24; Ephesians 5:25-29).

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets