THE BEGINNING
Marriage is a God-Ordained institution. It is the bedrock of life. It is central to God’s plan for mankind. It is the ring which circumscribes every area spiritual, social, psychological, physical of human life. It is a major factor in determining whether you will live a happy or a sorrowful life. Teaching in this area is therefore pivotal to the spiritual well-being of the church and the transformation of the world.
Let me state categorically from the outset that the ideas in this column are geared towards making you get the best in your marriage and family life.
The column is aimed at revealing the standard of God for marriage and family life. It is also to help you reach deep into Scriptures for the neglected promises for the family.
The teaching in this column will most certainly open your eyes to areas where you have gone wrong in your own marriage. But know that when God searches you, He does it to know what to supply or fix in your personal life, as well as your marriage and family life. Unlike the Government and other bodies that set up a panel or committees to probe into a given situation in order to determine who to indict or absolve, when God searches you, He does it to help you not to indict you.
God knows that many of His people, the church, are ignorant. He knows a good number are converts who just came into the kingdom. They are innocent and have not learnt many things He would have them know. And so He finds a way to teach them.
But there’s one thing you need to understand, often times you suffer for your actions, even if those actions were taken in ignorance. This suggests that doing certain things even when you are sincerely ignorant does not prevent you from bearing the consequences of such actions. It is the same in marriage. There are some things you do ignorantly, innocently and sincerely but you still reap unpleasant results.
Proverbs 16:25 declares:“There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”KJV This Scripture affirms that you can die in sincere ignorance. You may feel a way is right, a method is tested and proven, a procedure of marriage is result-oriented. Yet, it can lead you into difficult, despair and death if not properly managed.
I said earlier that marriage is common to all, but one truth still stands we are different persons. A Nigerian is different from a Ghanaian. Within the same country there are differences among the citizens. Differences exist among people within a state, town or a village, and even amongst members of the same family. Just like differences are found in individuals, so are they found in marriages too. Therefore , no two marriages can be approached in the same way.
The way Peter threads his way through marriage will definitely be different from the way Paul does. They are two different persons and God has different plans for them.
Besides, I believe you know that Believers do not belong to themselves. You are not your own if you are a believer. Don’t dispute this. It is a clear fact of Scripture. The Word of God tells us in 1 Corinthians 6:19: “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”
1 Corinthians 6:19 KJV.
What is implied in this Scripture is that it is possible for your sister to have committed fornication, conceived and be given away in marriage to the man that put her in the family way. And then she begins to parade herself as being properly and happily married. But you cannot marry in this fashion. You must keep on telling yourself that you are not your own. You are different from the unbeliever either your pal, your parents or your people.
There are reasons why you cannot live like the unbeliever especially in your marriage and family life.
Firstly, God has made it clear that Christians do not belong to themselves. They are God’s people. God thinks about them and has the best plans for them:“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
Jeremiah 29:11 KJV.
Secondly, God knows that there are problems in the world which are likely to affect His people that live like the people of the world. Hence, He charges you not to be like the people of the world:“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”
2 Corinthians 6:14-18 KJV.
Thirdly, the devil controls the world. The pace of the systems in the world, including marriage, is set by the devil. And God does not want the devil to influence His people.
Fourthly, the people in the world are ignorant. In their ignorance they make a lot of costly mistakes, most of which bring tragic consequences. God knows this and consequently dissuades His people from emulating the world.
Fifthly, the people in the world follow the tradition of the world, will-fully transgressing the commandments of God. Christians are not to be bound by the traditions of the world. Therefore, God would have His people purge themselves of worldly tradition.
Sixthly, people in the world suffer for their mistakes. They cry inwardly but behave as if they have it all outwardly. If you are going to follow anyone, it should not be someone who needs help and doesn’t even know how to get it. So, God would have you sever every connection with the world especially in your marriage and family life.
Finally, God does not want you to follow the unbeliever because the values of the unbeliever is in outright contrast with those of the believer. The unbeliever places a high price on riches, beauty and family background. And these are of least value in the church.
God’s Word Commands,“Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.”
Psalms 62:10 KJV
WEALTH: (riches) is one thing people of the world give priority when considering who to marry. Yet, the word of God says that the Christian must not set his/her heart on riches because they are transient.
Also, Ecclesiastes 5:10:“He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.”
Ecclesiastes 5:10 KJV.
Besides, in 1 Timothy 6:10:“For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
1 Timothy 6:10 KJV.
Likewise in Proverbs 31:30:“Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.”
Proverbs 31:30 KJV.
You can see from these Scriptures, that what the world esteems in their consideration of who to marry, God considers unimportant.
TO BE CONTINUED NEXT MONTH, PLS BE ON THE LOOK OUT & DON’T FORGET TO SHARE, UNTIL THEN:
“The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.”
Numbers 6:24-26 KJV
IN JESUS MIGHTY NAME AMEN🙏
Mrs Angelinah Olubunmi Peters
JESUS Is Alive In me
