Wednesday, April 10
If you’re supposed to choose your friends carefully, you must be even more careful when it comes to choosing your future spouse. Adam was very blessed that God designed his life companion with His own hands and from within himself. Adam’s choice was easy since Eve was not just the only woman, but the perfect woman. The rest of us have a little more difficult time, since none of us is perfect and have many more people to choose from.
Because this decision is so important, God has not left us without guidance in this area of our lives. Besides all the important steps we looked at in Monday’s lesson, there are some more specific steps to follow in the whole question of marriage (we will look at the whole question of marriage more carefully in lesson 6). Indeed, outside the choice to serve the Lord, the question of a spouse will almost always be the most consequential choice anyone makes in their live.
What very general guidance is found in the following texts that could and should be applied to someone seeking the right partner in marriage? Psalms 37:27, 119:97, 1 Corinthians 15:33, James 1:23-25.
Besides looking for the right person to marry, be the right person first. “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12, NKJV). Someone could find a great potential spouse who has all the qualities one would want, but if the one who wants good qualities in the other lacks them himself or herself, problems will arise.
This is not new, and is certainly seen not only in marriage but in life in general. Paul spends a great deal of time in the opening of Romans talking to those who condemn others for doing what they, the ones condemning, are also guilty of. Or, as Jesus said: “And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:3, NKJV).
How often do you find yourself wishing others (your spouse, perhaps) had traits that, in fact, you lack yourself? Think about it.
