Years ago a young man notice a young lady on campus.
At first he could not find a way to meet this young lady.
Then he discovered from another student this young lady was a music major.
She was an excellent piano player.
She also worked as an usher at symphony hall.
Although this young man played the clarinet in his high school band, he was really more interested in sports than music.
But he decided to do something unusual.
He decided to attend each concert, and sit in the section where this young lady ushered.
Within time the young man was able to start a conversation with the young lady.
They started to date one another.
Finally, they became engaged and married one another.
Why did this young man get the girl? The answer is very simple.
He practiced a very important principle.
The principle is actually found in the Bible in the New Testament.
You can find this principle in Philippians 2:4.
"Let each of you not only look to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
" Now this is the principle this young man used to get the girl.
He humbly and sincerely looked out for the interest and concerns of the young lady.
He was interested in football, but she was interested in music.
He was therefore willing to attend every concert to show her interest was important to him.
Sad to say, as time moves on married couples often lose sight of this principle.
After the first year of marriage many couples find themselves in deep conflict.
The reason is often very simple.
They stop practicing the principle of looking after the interest of the other person.
Now they spend more time taking care of their own interest with their friends rather than each other.
Let me share with you how this principle might work in a long standing marriage relationship.
Chuck and Mary have been married for ten years.
They have a happy marriage, but right now there is a conflict between them.
Mary wants to buy new curtains for the living room, but chuck is anxious about the idea.
They are already over budget for the month.
They have been under financial stress for several months.
But Chuck remembered the principle found in Philippians 2:4.
He then asked Mary this question.
"Why buying new curtains was so important when we are having financial problems? Mary's face lit up.
She could tell that Chuck was concern about her interest.
Mary then said this to Chuck.
"Remember my mother is coming for a visit in three weeks.
I like the house to look nice for her visit.
" Chuck then realized that his wife was not being reckless with their money.
She had a valid concern.
Chuck realized that the living room curtains needed to be replaced.
He also realized Mary's desire to have a nice looking house for her mother's visit was a valid concern.
Together they began to brainstorm a solution to the problem.
They continued to talk over the course of two days until they finally found a solution.
Mary discovered that her friend Jill was willing to make the curtains at half the cost of the department store.