Solutions to Common Complaints -Complaint #6

Complaint #6: "I can no longer stand my mate's annoying habits."

Bible Principle: "Continue putting up with one another and forgiving one another freely if anyone has a cause for complaint against another."-Colossians 3:13.  Also, Do Not forget, your vows, for better or for worse; unless they are physically and mentally abusive. These people cannot stop their abusive behavior. God does not like spouses to abuse one another. 

When you were first dating, you were likely to focus on your prospective mate's  fine qualities that you barely noticed his or her flaws.  Can you do the same not? No doubt, your mate gives you legitimate cause for complaint. (Are you so perfect? Think!) However, ask yourself, 'On which of my mate's qualities will I choose to focus-the good or the bad?' 

Jesus used a powerful illustration that shows the need for us to overlook the flaws we see in others.  "Why . . .do you look at the straw in your brother's eye," he asked, "but you do not consider the rafter in your own eye?"  (Matthew 7:3) A straw could be a small piece of grass. A rafter, on the other hand, is a bulky length of timber used to hold up the roof of a  house.  His point? "First extract the rafter from your own eye, and they you will see clearly how to extract the straw from your brother's eye." -Matthew 7:5.

Jesus introduced this illustration with a sobering warning. "Stop judging," he said,  "that you may not be judged; for with what judgment you are judging, you will be judge."   (Matthew 7:1, 2) If you would like God to overlook your faults-the rafter in your eye-it is in your best to overlook flaws in your mate. -Matthew 6:14, 15.

Next time: Conclusion of Solutions to Common Complaints - Complaint #6

The Watchtower, 2011