Redeeming the Realities of Marriage

Do you ever read books more than once and get something totally different out of them the second or third time around?  Recently a book club I’m in read What Did You Expect?: Redeeming the Realities of Marriage, which I’ve reviewed before and included in my top books of 2010 and I was struck by a whole new set of insights.

This time, I was challenged by author Paul David Tripp’s observation that most people live their lives focused on the kingdom of self rather than the kingdom of God, and this has serious implications for our relationships.  Tripp points out that when you have that “little kingdom” focus you view others as either vehicles or impediments to your plan, and you miss out on the much, much greater plan that God has in mind.

Marriage, Tripp says, is one of the ways God works to get us to the end of ourselves – to the point where we have to acknowledge that we are not able to control everything and accomplish everything on our own.  This is where we can really grow and experience God’s grace and strength.

If you are married or approaching marriage and haven’t read this book yet, I would highly recommend it.

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Related posts:

1. The Meaning of Marriage (a book you really need to read)
2. The Four Seasons of Marriage
3. Don’t forget!