I was at home eating breakfast by myself today, when the Ellen Degeneres show came on. I seldom eat breakfast alone, but Shannon is on a mission trip and the kids were at school. Anyway, my breakfast was later than usual because I had volunteered to feed my neighbors cows so that his hired hand could go on the mission trip. I began watching the news, but before I was done eating the Ellen show came on. Since I could not find the controller and was too lazy to get up and change the channel, I watched her opening monologue.
She began by talking about these signs that have sprung up all over California. The are huge billboards that say "Life is short, have an affair" and then give a web site for married men and women to find a person to have an affair with. Ellen was horrified and "disturbed" by these signs. She went on to say that if two people are married and agree that they can have sex with other people that is okay with her, but then that is not really being married, it is a reality show on MTV. She also said that she thought the sign should read, "Life is short, be faithfull."
First of all it so awesome to here a Hollywood celebrity actually promoting good morals in our culture. Most of the time it seems to me that Hollywood is promoting an amoralistic society where everything goes and there are no absolutes. Here we have Ellen Degeneres saying that it is better to be faithful in marriage. Whether you agree with her lifestyle or not, it is good to hear her promoting faithful marriages.
Secondly, it brought a reminder to me that faithfullness to our marriage begins before we are married. When someone has sex with somebody that they are not married to, it is cheating on thier spouse to be. God calls us to be faithful in marriage as a reminder of being faithful to God as well. Well, of course it makes a happier marriage and a better life, this is true. However, according to the Bible, marriage is shadow of our relationship with God. God calls us to be faithful to God and God alone. There are multiple oppurtunities to join with other gods, but we must be faithfull.
I think faithfullness will be my word of the week. Although, I never thought I would be saying this, I think I will take Ellen's advice "Life is short, be faithfull." However, I think I will take it a step farther than what she said. I will be faithfull in my marriage. I do not have time to deal with the problems that having an affair or whatever would cause. I want to enjoy every minute with my best friend that I can. Shannon is an awsome wife and mother. Why would I want to mess that up? Also, I will be faithfull to God. Every day and every minute, I want to follow God. Life is too short to waste time on sin and the consequences of sin. Instead, I want to enjoy my time with God that I have here on earth.
I can think of many ways this mantra could apply to our lives. In our work, in school, in sports, in every activity we do. We should endeavor to be more faithful and enjoy more of our lives.
Life is short, be faithful.
