HOLISTIC PREPARATION FOR LIFE& MARRIAGE Pt.6

YOUR SOCIAL LIFE

One of my house fellowship teachers those days told us about some believers from a particular denomination who do not relate cordially with neighbours in their multi tenanted houses. They took the matter of holiness to the extreme up to the point where they refused to bath in the general bathroom. Most of them bath in their rooms and pour the water outside. They believed sharing thesame bathroom with sinners will contaminate them. They wear a long look and carry pious faces around. Smiling is a problem. Their social life was poor. Interpersonal relationship defines social life. For a believer, our interactions with people should be within the confines of what is acceptable in scriptures. God's prescription for a good scoial life in Hebrews 12:14 is: "Work at living in peace with everyone,..". When we talk about social life, what comes to the mind of some is involvement in entertainment and wild parties. However, the simplest way to understanding social life is by linking it to the actions that a human being carries out in contact with other people.

We live in the world though we are not of the world yet we cannot but have contact with people around us. God expect us to have contact without contamination. As a single willing to be married, you must develop the social aspect of your life in way that is biblical and beneficial to humanity. Those who don't know how to get along with people may find it hard getting along with their spouses in marriage. There are single folks that are known trouble makers in their social circle. I'm wary of people who always have problem with people. Everywhere they get to even in church, they're known for having issue with the brethren. Their behaviour is anti social. In their community, they don't greet neither do they show courtesy and respect. They don't have good friends because they're social persona non grata. Even their immediate family members have turned them to prayer projects. It is impossible for people with such antecedents to have a blissful marriage. People bring who they are into their marriage. The marital breakthrough some are praying for is tied to a viable social life. A sister whose reputation is that of a recluse, doesn't talk or greet people, poor dress sense and bad body odour or a brother who doesn't smile nor treat people well, anti social in behaviour, such persons may keep praying for marital breakthrough.

You must invest in this part of your life before saying "Yes I do". You can improve your social life by realizing that you'll always need people at every stage of your life. Yes you will. There's a Zulu proverb that says, "Umuntu Ngumuntu Ngabantu" meaning "We are people through other persons. It expresses humanity. Who we are at every point in time is a function of our relationship with others. A healthy social life is a huge capital to achieving many things in life. Even Jesus, the incarnate son of God couldn't fulfill his assignment on earth without humans. He had a social circle of 12 disciples. In marriage, your social circle will widen to include your spouse, in-laws and friends. Some are having serious problems with their in-laws not because their in-laws are bad but because of their deficiency in social skills. You need to learn how to care, love and bear with people without comprising your faith.