From the Minister's Desk . . .
Gale Nelson

Marriage: Counting the Cost

Jesus taught in Luke 14:26-ff. that "if any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple."

Verse 28: "For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it."

As children of God, we must remember the Lord in EVERY decision that we make. If our focus is on self, or father, mother, sister, brother, children, or a WIFE, more than on what God requires, we will end up making a huge mistake. Count the cost before you build-especially before you choose to marry someone.

In the age of the TV shows, the Bachelor, the Bachelorette, or even Mr. Personality, we ought to take heed to how the world has diminished marriage to an emotional and oftentimes, financial game. This is NOT what the Lord intended:

Heb. 13:4 Marriage is honorable in all.
Proverbs 18:22 Whoso findeth a wife, findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favor of the Lord.

Bro. Wayne Jackson, wrote an article entitled, "Some Foolish Reasons For Getting Married." There are seven which he mentions, that can help us keep our focus. (Source of main points: The Christian Visitor, Jan.-Feb., 1984)

1. "One should never marry for financial reasons." Sound advice! It is a grave mistake to marry someone for money. Despite what our society may convey, money cannot buy happiness. 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 Tim. 6:10).

2. "Do not marry for fear of getting too old." It is troubling to see people panic due to age and grab the first prospect that comes along. Then they find themselves "stuck" in an unhappy marriage.

3. "Don't get married simply to get away from home." Troubles between teenagers and their parents are certainly not uncommon. But to hastily marry just to get away from one's parents is as bro. Jackson suggests, possibly going, "from the frying pan into the fire!"

4. "Never marry to punish someone." Marrying to prove a point, or to spite
someone will only lead to a miserable state of affairs. And might I add it can be
very costly.

5. "Don't marry because all your friends are doing it." When friends and classmates start tying the knot, pressure is felt to do the same. Running off to get married as a neat thing to do may turn out to not be so neat as one may think.

6. "Don't get married just to cover a mistake." As bro. Jackson suggests,
"When a marriage is formed simply out of guilt, fear, or panic, it is off to a very shaky start."

7. "Do not marry solely on the basis of physical attraction." If a marriage is based on nothing more than physical attraction and sexual desire, it is not founded upon a foundation that will endure.

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