Faithfulness In The Home

By ED RICE, Pastor

GOOD SAMARITAN BAPTIST CHURCH

54 MAIN STREET – BOX 99

DRESDEN, NEW YORK 14441

www.gsbaptistchurch.com

The Christian home is the mainstay of stable society and it's core basis is fidelity. The wisdom of Solomon puts it this way "Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well. ... Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth." (Proverbs 5:15,18)

This fidelity is called for in the vows exchanged on the wedding day, where the love, the security, and the significance are promised before God till death do part. These vows are violated in the marriages that entertain or pursue divorce. And such violation not only destroys a marriage union, it destroys a home, it destroys the security of children.

God's plan for marriage is serious and blessing is promised to those who will make it work, cursing to those who would separate. "What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." (Mark 10:9) Those in our society who try for security without marriage vows rub their own errant ideas into the face of God and their home will not have His blessing.

When a couple marry they grasp a security in their relationship that is necessary to the human heart. Such security is mirrored in the words of Christ when he says to born again believers,"I will never leave thee nor forsake thee." (Heb 13:5) He would not break that vow to us, nor should you break yours to your spouse. It brings a needed security to a marriage, a home and to its children.

A husband is commanded to love his wife as Christ loved the church. This love is not a gushy way of feeling, it is a selfless caring for the well being of another. Three things emphasized by the Lord Jesus Christ, can help secure a love that could last till death do part. Faithfulness, forgiveness, and good communication. The first of these is addressed directly in your marriage vows.

The other two are key to keeping the first active. An important part of being 'one flesh' is the act of forgiveness. When an act or word in your marriage holds grudge or unforgiveness it divides. Division is directly opposed to the bonding involved in being one flesh, one mind, one spirit.

Holding a hurt that will be brought up again in a later fight, is by definition, unforgiveness. Jesus said "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." (Matt 6:14-15) A forgiving heart is inherently Christian. Unforgiveness is a problem in life, and a real problem in marriages.

Good communication is a delightful challenge for marriages. Again, the 'art' of becoming one flesh, one mind, one spirit, will only culminate with good communications. I recently read, that a man is alloted a thousand words per day and the woman twenty thousand. I am sure that was based on observation not research.

But it is normal for a man to get home from work with only two words left in his allocation, "Where's supper?" as his precious wife only used only a thousand words and that on a three year old! Good communication will be a challenge in your home. Take the challenge, purpose to be faithful, forgiving and a good communicator in your marriage. It can be a taste of paradise here on earth, and last till death do part. May God bless your home. V