Over the years, I have had several partners in various business ventures. Usually, we became partners because we shared the same views and interest. We were also motivated by similar goals, interested in the project being profitable, and in some cases, mutually desirous to see something changed or created.
However, I have also had a few partners where practically none of these commonalities existed. The end result was usually failure and sometimes hard feelings. It seems that an ideal partnership would be one where both parties are confident of their individual talents and abilities. They understand what they are expected to contribute and their confidence moves them to be proactive. Where one may be weak, the other is strong.
So it is with successful marriages. Couples should be willing to make decisions together that affect their marriage and family. At the same time, partners should trust each other to make individual decisions where that person has expertise. These abilities are often God-given and for another to make decisions for you is an infringement. They are taking away the power given to you by God. When this happens, many times the one “infringed” may tend to build resentment while withdrawing from performing future responsibilities.
Inactivity on the part of a marital partner in these matters, usually leads to a less-than ideal relationship. This person will often develop a tendency to procrastinate. But here are some truths about procrastination:
Doing nothing is not making a decision that needs to be made. Sitting back and pretending not to see a situation for what it is is not a decision. Procrastinating until something happens where there are only a few obvious choices is also not a decision. This is, in fact, passivity and in the end it will not serve you well.
Great marriages consist of proactive couples approaching a problem together. Then, each does his or her part according to abilities given to them by God. Decisions should be thoughtfully and prayerfully made both individually and jointly. Procrastinating allows a bad problem to get worse. Even God wasn’t pleased with those not willing to move forward. In Joshua 18, the Jews have arrived at the threshold of the Promised Land, yet they were hesitating. In verse 3, Joshua speaking on behalf of God said, “How long will you neglect to go and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers has given you?”
So, here we stand at the threshold of a new year. Can we stop it from coming by doing nothing? Of course not! Let’s boldly move forward and conquer claiming it for our own Jehovah God!