Should We Stay Single

25. February 2009 by Bernice Davis.

Hello:

Today, we still are studying the subject of DIVORCE.  Let’s revisit the text.

Matthew 19: 3 Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?” 4 ”Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? 6 So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.” 7 ”Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?” 8 Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. 9 I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery.” 10 The disciples said to him, “If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.” 11 Jesus replied, “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. 12 For some are eunuchs because they were born that way; others were made that way by men; and others have renounced marriage because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.”

We want to pick up our study now with the disciples response to Jesus’ teachings on divorce.   The disciples come to Jesus and they say if this is the case between a husband and wife then it is better not to marry.    In other words, if you have to stay committed to one person for the rest of your life and don’t have the ability to get out of the relationship except for adultery then what they were saying is Jesus; “people are not going to do this.”    You have to also remember from our study that divorcing was common and the popular belief was that you could divorce for any reason.    The disciples were saying it is better to live a single life.

Jesus strongly rebuked their answer.  Marriage is of God and everyone can’t live a single life.   Jesus said that the only people that can live single are those have renounced marriage for the kingdom of God and then there are some who were made eunuchs by men and others were born that way.  Eunuchs are people that do not engage in sex at all.  Some are born with the genital areas underdeveloped or malformed and have no desire for sex which is what Jesus meant by some are born that way.    

The disciples were looking at the situation wrong, they were avoiding marriage for fear of life-long commitment and possibly being stuck with the wrong person instead of concentrating on finding and building a relationship based on God’s word.   A lot of things we say are based on our own abilities and strength and we just assume that we’re never going to be able to live out this life according to the scriptures.   We have to remember that God is in our lives now and God does help us.  His word strengthens us and enables us to choose right over wrong.

I remember when I first got married; I thought I would never be able to stay with one man for the rest of my life.   Based on my past and what I had been exposed to and the kind of life that I had lead, I just knew I would be the next “church scandal” (lol)  but God has a way of helping you if you want to be help.   On my wedding day, I was at the alter nervous and so scared that I would end up hurting this wonderful man that was before me.   I decided then and there that I would take a chance on God and trust that I could be the wife that the scriptures called for and it has been seventeen years now and I am still married to the same man and I can honestly say that I love him now more than the day we married.    

God is faithful.  It takes a lot of work, a lot of commitment but the key is my husband and I are committed to keeping our marriage together and treating each other as the scriptures command.  DIVORCE is not even an option for us only obeying God’s word is.     Please hear my heart here.  I am making no judgments on Christians who have divorced.   You cannot just make general accusations here because the situations are diverse and can be very complicated.   You also have to have both spouses committed to obeying God’s word.  So I know that relationships can be very complicated, I am simply giving you my testimony and my story and what My husband and I have committed to.   

 Jesus concludes this teaching by saying; “the one who can accept this teaching should accept it. “ 

Stay encouraged!!!!!!!!

 Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily. 

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