Sacred Vows
Matthew 5:31-32
31”It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.”
I’ve recently been so blown away by the alarming numbers of divorce (epidemic status) within our society today, that it not only angers me, it saddens me and even more so, it frightens me! I’ve been following the hoopla of Jon & Kate Gosselin of the hit reality TV show, Jon & Kate plus eight, who’s marriage/divorce has been plastered all over the headlines with the same intensity of an announcement of a possible nuclear explosion! We give the subject of divorce so much glory nowadays, and the topic of marriage is treated like a bad word! So, having said this, I would like to ask you a few questions, and discuss this sensitive subject.
Are long talks and dinner dates a thing of the past? Have picnics, romantic getaways and open lines of communication turned into argument city? Can you barely stand the sight of your spouse and have you grown cold to his touch? Has trust become an issue in your marriage, or does your spouse treat you disrespectfully? Do you feel disconnected from your spouse so much so that you no longer want to be connected at all? Well, in the course of every relationship there will be downfalls, obstacles and tests; however, within a marriage these trials can get the best of us, after all, marriage is a lifetime commitment. Yes, I did say lifetime commitment. No matter how rough the going gets, neither spouse should make the decision to get going! If you commit your life to someone you should remember that you entered into the commitment with a willingness to endure for the long haul, not treat marriage like a company’s return policy: exchange your spouse for something different, or get a full refund if it doesn’t fit right or it no longer appeals to your liking. Allow God to be your personal tailor/seamstress and to make those necessary alterations. After all, you did enter into marriage as a threesome and God can and will shape your marriage to be tailor-made, meaning the perfect fit for you and your hubby.
My Him (my husband) and I will be celebrating our 10th anniversary this year and within this timeframe, my nerves, patience, and FAITH have definitely been tested, and I’m sure his has as well! However, they say that anyone can get married, but staying happily married is something totally different, and I agree. There were times when I wanted to quit, give up, move on and out; however, I always remembered my vows (the PROMISE that My Him & I made to each other and most importantly to God) and for My Him and I, divorce is definitely NOT an option! No Way! I understand that you agreed to be with and deal with this person for eternity and that can sometimes be a bit much to take in, but remember that marriage is a spiritual thing, and it was designed to be comparable to Christ’s love for the church. It then should make a world of difference during the worst of times, for God is not going to give up on the church; why then should you contemplate giving up on your marriage? This is far more than 12rounds; you can’t just throw in the towel. I think I may have said this before in one of the previous topics, you and your spouse become one with God when you unite in holy matrimony; however, you are still individuals which means that at different times, you’ll each be at different places spiritually and personally, and it’s ok…it’s called growth and maturity.
As I see and hear of all the issues that married couples have, especially when one’s marital issues are making news headlines, it makes me wonder if any of these couples have had a heart–to-heart with the third person in the marriage; God. You see, I believe that it’s so easy to lean on our own understanding, taking matters into our own hands rather than asking God what’s His plan for the marriage and most importantly, being patient enough to receive the answer. This is why the divorce rate is so high and our families are being destroyed (the enemy is having a field day) because we think that we know what’s best for the marriage instead of allowing God to direct and guide the course to that perfect place and purpose that He designed each marriage for anyway.
*Matthew 5:31-32
31: “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32: But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.” In Summary, 5:31, 32 “Divorce is as hurtful and destructive today as in Jesus’ day. God intends marriage to be a lifetime commitment (Genesis 2:24). When entering into marriage, people should never consider divorce an option for solving problems or a way out of a relationship that seems dead. In these verses, Jesus is also attacking those who purposefully abuse the marriage contract, using divorce to satisfy their lustful desire to marry someone else. Are your actions today helping your marriage grow stronger, or are you tearing it apart?”
5:32 “Jesus said that divorce is not permissible except for unfaithfulness. This does not mean that divorce should automatically occur when a spouse commits adultery. The word translated “unfaithfulness” implies a sexually immoral life-style, not a confessed and repented act of adultery. Those who discover that their partner has been unfaithful should first make every effort to forgive, reconcile, and restore their relationship. We are always to look for reasons to restore the marriage relationship rather than for excuses to leave it.”
*Scripture quotations and summary are taken from the Life Application Study Bible (NIV).
As you can see, I’m very serious about the subject of divorce, but I’m even more passionate about the topic of marriage! I know that my marriage, your marriage, no marriage can nor will survive without God in the center, and in charge!
According to The Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the definition of divorce is: “to dissolve a marriage; to end a relationship.” Well, I’ve decided to look at it from a different perspective and turn a negative into a positive. Before you seek an attorney to draw up divorce papers, try this: Treazure’s antidote for D I V O R C E
Dwell Inwardly Vowing Obedience Respecting Christ’s Expectations for marriage!
What this means is to go within yourself to seek introspect from God if you’re the person causing discord within the marriage and promise to be obedient to His guidance and show respect for Christ’s expectations for marriage. If your spouse is the one causing discord, pray for him that he does the same.
Find the Jewel in You, See the Gem in Him!
Treazure
I would like to wish a very Happy Birthday to the most important woman in my life, my mom! You're the reason that I sparkle so brightly as you've always encouraged me to let my light shine. I love you!
