The Covenant of Marriage

Posted by Jim on Oct 25, 2009
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Too many marriages today are entered with one eye on the back door. “I know we said ‘til death do us part’ but there are exceptions.” Consider God’s view of marriage as your standard. “For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away:” (Mal. 2:16) Jesus said, “Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” (Matt. 19:6) In simple words, He was saying two married people are put together by God and man cannot separate them without consequences.
In speaking on this years ago, I brought out a piece of ¾ inch plywood. I had taken a chisel, placed it carefully at one of the glue seams, and split the wood in half. But, try as I might, I couldn’t separate the plies as they were before gluing. Both sides were damaged. So is a broken marriage.
One problem is that couples think of their marriage as a civil contract instead of a covenant. There is a difference. A contract a conditional agreement between two individuals. If one breaks his part of the bargain, then the contract is severed. A covenant, on the other hand, is a vow to God relating to another person. God calls marriage a covenant. (Mal 2:14) Solomon warns us not to enter into a covenantal vow lightly. Listen: “. . .Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God. . . therefore let thy words be few. . . When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?” (Ecc. 7:1-7) Read the entire passage thinking of the vow you made or will make in marriage.
If you recited the traditional marriage vows, the official said something like this: “Do you (groom) take (bride) to be your wife – to live together after God’s ordinance – in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, for better, for worse, in sadness and in joy, to cherish and continually bestow upon her your heart’s deepest devotion, forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto her as long as you both shall live?” The wife’s vow is similar except that she also promised to “love, cherish, and obey.”
Instead of devising ways to get out of an unhappy marriage, God wants us to take our vows seriously and concentrate that energy on making it all He designed it to be.

“Prepared” Children (2)

Posted by Jim on Oct 18, 2009
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Girls, this one is for you! Yes, the Bible is mainly about boys and men, but it has a lot to say to girls as well. Do you want to grow up to be a godly lady? Now is the time to start! Let’s look at two outstanding girls in the Bible.
In 2 Kings chapter 5 we are given the story of Naaman, the captain of the Syrian army. Sometime before this a young girl lived in Israel and knew of the prophet Elisha and the wonderful miracles God had done through him to help others. One day, the Syrian army raided the girl’s city and took her back to their country as a slave. Though we don’t know the girl’s name, we can only imagine how frightened she must have been and how bitter she could have felt toward those who had ripped her from her home. Somehow the girl ended up serving Naaman’s wife. When sadness filled their home, the girl heard that Naaman had the dreaded disease of leprosy. Instead of being glad that evil had come to the ones who enslaved her, she shared her knowledge of Elisha’s power with her mistress. I think she was rejoicing with the others when Naaman returned, completely healed, don’t you? Do you think her kindness was rewarded with freedom to return home?
In the New Testament is the story of a young Jewish girl who was serving her parents and anticipating her soon marriage to a godly man. Like most other girls of that time, Mary planned to be a housewife and mother some day. But she had prepared her life in case God has something for her out of the ordinary. We know that she memorized Scripture, kept herself pure, and was submissive to authority like her parents. One day the angel Gabriel appeared to her and told her that God had chosen her to be the human mother of His Son, Jesus. This was shocking news! Yet her response was, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.” (Luke 1:38) She was saying, ‘Lord, I am your servant. Do whatever you want with me.’ She probably didn’t know at the time that this honor would bring more pain than fame to her during her lifetime. But it didn’t matter. Whatever God wanted was fine. She had planned on an ordinary life but had prepared herself for an extraordinary life, and that is what God gave her.
What do you think God will do in and through your life if you totally dedicate yourself to Him as His handmaid? First Corinthians 2:9 (quoting Isaiah 64:4) says you can’t even imagine!

“Prepared” Children

Posted by Jim on Oct 11, 2009
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“When I grow up, I want to serve God.” If that is your heart’s desire, it is a good one! After all, if God’s people don’t do the work of God, who will?
Of course, you don’t have to wait until you’re grown up to serve God. Last week we examined the blessings on children who honor their parents. Did you read it? Have you honored them this week? Being loving and kind, and being a servant to others in your home are a few ways you can serve God now!
You can also prepare yourself for future service. This is what David did, and God noticed. Surely David was only a teenager when he stood against Goliath. But it was no accident that he was such a success. David knew what he could do, and he knew what God could do for he had prepared himself in at least three ways during his childhood years.
First, David prepared for an occupation. He learned to take care of sheep. Though probably a boring job much of the time, he learned what sheep were like and how to meet their needs. He practiced with his sling and became increasingly accurate and confident in using it. It was no accident his stone hit the giant right where he planned it. David risked his life to protect the sheep on two occasions, facing a lion and a bear. Though he wasn’t a shepherd when he grew up, he learned skills there that made him a success in caring for people in his kingdom.
Second, David learned a skill. During down time while caring for his sheep, David practiced his music lessons. He became so good that even as a teen, he was a famous harpist in the country. When Saul needed a musician to play for him, the king’s assistant recommended David. “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings.” (Prov. 22:29) David’s skill with music led him to write many of the Psalms that continue to bless people today. If you are taking music or art or swimming or ?? lessons, keep at it! You never know how God will use this tool in the future.
The most important way David prepared himself was taking time to meditate on the Bible. He said, “O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.” (Ps. 119:97) The Old Testament law might seem boring to think about all day, but David learned the Person and ways of God through mulling it over in his mind. This was the main reason God said he was a man after his own heart (1 Samuel 13:14) meaning, a man who loved and hated the same things God did. While you are young, fill your mind with Scripture, think it over, and apply it to your life. You can’t imagine what God will do with a person so prepared! (Isaiah 64:4)

“Blessed” Children

Posted by Jim on Oct 04, 2009
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Hey, kids. I know you don’t usually read this article but this week take the time to read it. It was written just for you. Please?
Everyone who would like to be a success in life, raise your hand. Looks like every hand is up. I mean, who plans to be a failure? So here’s good news for all of you with your hand up. (All right, you can put them down now, and read on.)
When God gave the 10 Commandments to Israel, He gave the first 4 rules about how they were to honor the Lord. The very next commandment is to children. “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.” (Exodus 20:12) Paul repeats this in Ephesians. “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” (6:1-3) Notice he reminded children that this was the first of the 10 Commandments that contains a promise. We’ll look at that in a minute.
Paul uses two words to describe how you are to behave toward your parents. You are to obey them, and you are to honor them. These are not quite the same. Obey has to do with what you do and don’t do. Honor deals more with your attitude, expressed in your words and actions. For example, when asked to do something, you could say to your mother, “All right, if I have to.” If you do it, you are obeying, but your attitude is certainly not honoring.
Honoring parents is similar to honoring the Lord. Your thoughts, words, actions, and attitudes toward them are always respectful. You would never speak against them to a friend. You would do your best to fulfill not just their words but also their wishes for you. Your parents may not always be right, but they are always God’s gift to you and always deserve your honor.
To those who honor their parents God promises, “it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” The first part of this promises that you will be a success. That is a wonderful future to be guaranteed! The second part does not mean you will necessarily live many years. It means you will live all the years God planned for you. Psalm 21:4 hints that this includes eternity. After all, to truly honor your parents, you will first need to honor God by receiving Christ.
In what ways can your honor your parents today? What about tomorrow? Think of the reward awaiting you if you set this as a daily goal!