2 CORINTHIANS 6:14
OPPOSING VIEWS
When our beliefs differ, stress and tension are easily created in any marriage. The opposite views can be as simple as you grew up to love the New York Yankees verses your spouses love of the New York Mets. Or you may prefer a spotless home while your spouse could care less.
Your sports views or the cleanliness of your home are one thing, and may seem insignificant overall, but how do you handle the substantial and more valuable convictions of your marriage? What about your opposing convictions?
JUSTIFICATION FOR DIVORCE
Did you know that even as the Gospel of Jesus Christ spread in the early church, it was not rare for one spouse to believe in Jesus while the other unbelieving spouse did not. Many Christians in Corinth actually used this as an excuse to condone divorce, instead of concentrating on God's plan, His outline for marriage just as He created it to be. (See GENESIS 2:24)
To be an unbelieving spouse... is to be destitute of true faith. True pastors and teachers will caution their beloved children in the gospel, not to be unequally yoked. Neglecting Biblical principles have fatal effects on marriages where there are fundamental, crucial and differing view points!
A COUNSELOR
One wife who had been married several years, finally went to a counselor and told him just how awful it was to be married to someone who didn't believe in Jesus. She told him how their children were being poorly influenced by opposing decisions made by each parent.
The counselor said, "Sounds like your pretty angry with your husband..." before he could finish his sentence she interrupted. "You have no idea! He is hurting me and our children and when I suggested a divorce... he told me no! He just makes me so mad, I don't know what I'll do!"
A PLAN OF ACTION
The counselor sat quietly for a moment, then he calculatingly said, "If you really want a divorce and at the same time show him how much he has hurt you, why don't you try this. "For six months, do things his way and lavish your love on him, as Jesus might do. Then at the end of the six months... hand him divorce papers! That should fix your problem and let him feel the pain your feeling right now."
The woman thought about it for awhile, and even prayed about it. She finally came to the conclusion, this might just be what the Lord would say to do.
So, for six months she did things "his way" and lavished all the love she had on him! The affect it had on her husband was amazing and at the end of six months, she shredded the divorce papers.
GODLY WISDOM
In 1 CORINTHIANS 7:12-13, the Apostle Paul reinforces that God's plan is for couples with an unbelieving spouse not to divorce. (I agree unless there is physical, emotional or mental abuse to the other spouse or any children in the home.) In continuing in your marriage, in prayers and supplications the unbelieving spouse may just come to the Lord, through your love and prayers.
Wisdom is a rare commodity. Paul urges believers, then and now, to walk wisely. It involves living well every day. Time itself seems to be co-opted by dark forces. But when believers understand God's will, and allow God to fill them with His Spirit, they are able to walk wisely and live well.
The Spirit-filled life is not just for a special few; it is the normal Christian life, and it affects everything, including how we live in community and how we treat others at home.
BELOW:
God is Faithful - YOU can Trust Him!
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Great Is Thy Faithfulness (Live) - Wes Hampton