TOPIC: RIGHT CHOICE IN MARRIAGE
Memorise: Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 2 Corinthians 6:14
Read: 1 Kings 11:1-4
11:1 But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;
11:2 Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.
11:3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.
11:4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.
Message
Apart from the choice of who to serve, choosing who to marry is another fundamental choice that affects the destiny of an individual. A wrong choice in marriage can negatively affect the choice to serve God. Solomon chose to marry many strange women and they influenced him to forsake God and serve their idols. Solomon’s earlier decision to serve the Almighty God was badly affected by his marriages. A marriage partner can take Heaven away from the dreams of his or her spouse and replace it with Hell.
Depending on who you choose to marry, your relationship with God will either continue to improve or it will stop all together. Solomon did not want to forget God who had done so much for him, but his marriage made him to err. It is vital to look at the factors that influence the choices we often make. There are always negative and positive factors guiding the choices we make. Whichever you allow to guide you will determine the kind of choice you will make. Many people made costly mistakes in the Bible either because they ignorantly made a choice or because they relied entirely on their knowledge without recourse to God’s guidance. Making a good choice therefore goes beyond human knowledge. No matter how much you know, depending on God in making a choice is a sign of meekness and humility. It is however unfortunate that many young folks today don’t believe that God still chooses the right marriage partner for His obedient children. The Bible in Psalm 25:9 says:
“The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.”
God guides the meek in judgment. Judgment in this context means decision, choice or preference.
You need basic knowledge in the areas where you have to make a choice. Nevertheless, after acquiring the requisite knowledge, you still need to depend on God. Lot chose a piece of land that he knew would be good for agriculture and he chose to relocate there. His knowledge was perfect, but it was limited because he did not know what the future held for that land. God later destroyed that land in the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 13:9-12). There is nothing wrong in making a choice, but Lot’s mistake was that he did not seek God’s guidance in making his choice. Relying solely on what you know in making a choice can cost you your whole life and mar your eternal peace. As a youth, do you know enough about marriage before you dabble into it? Do not choose by sight; having the relevant knowledge and God’s guidance are key to making the best choice.
Prayer Point: Father, please guide all our youths as they embark on choosing marriage partners.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Acts 14:1-16:15; Song of Solomon 4: 1-8
SOURCE: OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL, Volume 14, 2014
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