140707 PM LESSON 4 Love Depleting Challenges To Families Selfishness and Anger

“A More Excellent Way”  Lesson 4: Love Depleting Challenges To Families “Selfishness and Anger” (1 Corinthians 13:5)   Intro:   1. Selfish conduct is often at the core of many family difficulties. Adultery, divorce, financial woes, etc… are often a direct result of selfish behavior.   2. Anger presents itself in a variety of ways. All of which effectively remove love from a home.   3. Grudges and resentment are often a result.   4. These attitudes are in direct contrast to what Jesus demands of his disciples. (Luke 9:23)   I. Challenge of selfishness within our families.   1. Children come first. (Philippians 2:3-4) a. Parents want to make sacrifices that benefit their children but some restraint must be used as to not promote selfishness in our children.   b. It benefits children to accept some responsibility for the things they have. (Lamentations 3:27)   c. Selfishness can be avoided when God is first. (Matthew 10:37)   d. Teach our children to be giving. (Matthew 19:20-22)   e. Genuine love for our children will compel us to avoid the things that cause selfishness.   2. Selfishness can destroy harmony within a local body of Christians. (3 John 1:5-10)   II. Anger harms the love within our families.   1. Slow to anger. (James 1:19-20)   2. Watch our words. (Proverb 15:1)   a. Words are more harmful than we realize.   b. Anger is often expressed in words that linger for a long time. (Proverb 18:19)   3. Love overcomes anger.   a. When angry, serve. (John 13:14-17)   b. When angry, provoke others to good works. (Hebrews 10:24)   c. When angry, be accountable. (Romans 12:18)   III. Thoughts for the unmarried who are looking for a godly mate.   1. Be cautious concerning a potential spouse who expresses selfishness or anger before marriage.   2. A potential spouse should demonstrate themselves godly before I enter into a marriage. (Matthew 21:19)   3. Challenges come when we ignore problems until after we enter the marriage. (1 Corinth. 7:10-15)   4. No amount of cards, flowers, gifts, or expressions of “I love you” grants permission for anyone to be abusive. (Emotionally, physically, or spiritually.)   Conclusion: 1. Love does not “behave itself unseemly.” (1 Corinthians 13:5)   2. Love avoids anger and selfishness.   3. Love wants to promote caring and giving in every environment.