Marriage Should Create a Safe Place for Kids

CURRENT TEACHING SERIES Awesome Relationships

Marriage Should Create a Safe Place for Kids By Rick Warren — May 5, 2016 “Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge” (Proverbs 14:26 NIV). Studies have shown that if children grow up without a mom and dad, there’s increased risk that they’re going to fail in school. Kids without two parents are more likely to not graduate from college, to be involved in substance or alcohol abuse, to experience depression and the risk of suicide. And it increases the risk that they will divorce or bear children outside of marriage. On the other hand, statistics say that children who live with their own two parents growing up will enjoy better physical health than children living in any other family form. Every single study done has proven that kids develop best with a mom and a dad. All that’s just saying something real simple: When you do marriage God’s way, it works out better in your life and your kids’ lives. Kids grow healthier and stronger when they grow up in a stable family, with a mom and a dad in a stable marriage. Why did God create marriage for the protection of children? Because when children are born, they are completely helpless. God knew that children needed a safe environment and somebody to feed and dress and nurture and protect and train and care for them. The Bible says in Proverbs 14:26, “Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge” (NIV). That’s what every child needs growing up — a place of refuge and security, where they don’t have to worry if mom or dad is going to walk out. For many generations, when people “stayed together for the sake of the kids,” it was considered an honorable thing. Those people were considered unselfish and mature. Today people laugh at that statement. “Stay together for the sake of the kids? What are you talking about? You’ve got to do what’s best for you.” Really? Do you always have to do what’s best for you? That’s called narcissism. Can you sometimes do something that’s best for somebody else? For someone who’s more vulnerable than you are? That’s called maturity. That’s called unselfishness. That’s called love. PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >> Talk It Over Do you believe there is ever a right time for a husband or wife to walk out on his or her family? Why or why not? What do you think God wants a couple to do when they are tempted to walk away because they believe it would be better for them and their children? How can you prepare before marriage to raise children in a stable, godly home? Our Gift: Awesome Relationships Study Kit If you’d like to improve all of your relationships then you’ll want to experience Pastor Rick’s new four week DVD study called, Awesome Relationships. In this amazing study Pastor Rick shows you how to be intentional about building up your relationships so you can experience the awesome relationships that you desire. LEARN MORE Complete Audio Series (Purchase) Includes all complete sermons from the Rick Warren Awesome Relationships teaching series. LEARN MORE Series Summary Message 1: Fighting for an Awesome Marriage Message 2: ​​​​​​​​Fighting for an Awesome Family Message 3: ​Making Friends for Eternity Message 4: What ​Destroys Relationships and What Builds Them Message 5: Finding the Love of Your Life Message 6: ​Becoming Best Friends with God PLAY TODAY'S BROADCAST

Pastor Rick Warren

Enjoy today's Devotional? Listen instantly to the full radio message at Daily Hope Radio. Did someone forward this devotional to you? Subscribe to Pastor Rick Warren's Daily Devotional. This devotional is based on the current Daily Hope radio series at rickwarren.org. Rick Warren has helped people live with hope and on purpose for more than 40 years. He’s the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Southern California and author of several books, including "The Purpose Driven Church" and "The Purpose Driven Life," read by more than 100 million people in 137 languages. He created the PEACE Plan (plant churches of reconciliation, equip servant leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick, educate the next generation), which is used by churches in 196 countries. His radio teaching and daily devotional, Daily Hope, is offered across America. This devotional © 2016 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission. You can unsubscribe at any time by changing your e-mail preferences. Update your preferences  |  Unsubscribe