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Will It Be A Joy or A Heartache

1) Marrying "only in the Lord" and following God's guidance can lead to a joyful marriage, while unwise decisions like committing sins during courtship can result in dissatisfaction and grief. 2) Christians experiencing unhappy marriages may wonder if divorce is the answer, but they should seek God's guidance and make the best of their current situation rather than fantasizing about what could have been. 3) A marriage in danger of failure can sometimes be turned around through the fine conduct of one spouse, bringing the other mate to the true faith, which honors God.

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59 views2 pages

Will It Be A Joy or A Heartache

1) Marrying "only in the Lord" and following God's guidance can lead to a joyful marriage, while unwise decisions like committing sins during courtship can result in dissatisfaction and grief. 2) Christians experiencing unhappy marriages may wonder if divorce is the answer, but they should seek God's guidance and make the best of their current situation rather than fantasizing about what could have been. 3) A marriage in danger of failure can sometimes be turned around through the fine conduct of one spouse, bringing the other mate to the true faith, which honors God.

Uploaded by

johnhom12
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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WILL IT BE A JOY OR A HEARTACHE?

When a Christians marriage succeeds, it is a joy and brings honor to Jehovah. If it fails, it is a heartache at best. An unmarried Christian who is contemplating wedlock is in a position to get marriage off to a fine start by following Gods guidance. On the other hand, a person who makes an unwisedecision when choosing a husband or a wife may experience dissatisfaction and grief. For instance, some youths begin dating when they are not ready for the responsibilities associated with married life. Certain individuals find a prospective mate on the Internet and rush into what proves to be a very unhappy marriage. Others commit a serious sin during courtship and marry anyway, but they may begin their married life with little respect for each other.
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Some Christians do notmarry only in the Lord and suffer the often painful consequences of a religiously divided household. (1 Cor. 7:39) If that is your experience, pray for Gods forgiveness and help. He does not remove the effects of a persons past errors, but he does assist repentant ones to cope with trials. (Ps. 130:1-4) Put your heart into pleasing him now and forever, and the joy of Jehovah will be your stronghold. Neh. 8:10.
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WHEN MARITAL BONDS ARE THREATENED

Those who experience heartache in the marital relationship may wonder: Is my unhappy marriage really worth saving? If only I could turn back the clock and begin again with another marriage mate! They may dream of breaking the bondOh, to be free again!Whynot get a divorce? Even if I cannot get a Scriptural divorce, why not separate and enjoy life again? Instead of thinking in those terms or fantasizing about what might have been, Christians should make the best of their current state by seeking Gods guidance and following it.
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If a Christian were to get a divorce, he or she may or may not be Scripturally free to get married again. Jesus said: Whoever divorces his wife, except on the ground of fornication, and marries another commits adultery. (Matt. 19:9) Here, fornication includes adultery and other serious sexual sins. It is vital to weigh prayerfully any thought of divorce when neither mate has been guilty of sexual immorality.
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A failed marriage may cast doubt on ones spiritual state. The apostle Paul raised this serious question: If indeed any man does not know how to preside over his own household, how will he take care of Gods congregation? (1 Tim. 3:5) In fact, when both mates profess to be Christians and yet their marriage fails, observersmay think that such individuals do not really practice what they preach.Rom. 2:21-24.
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When baptized marriage mates are planning to separate or to divorce each other on unscriptural grounds, something surely is spiritually wrong in their life. Scriptural principles are apparently not being applied by one partner or perhaps by both partners. If theywere truly trusting in Jehovah with all their heart, there would be little reason for believing that they could not avoid a failed marriage. Read Proverbs 3:5, 6.
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Many marriages that seemed to be headed for failure have in time turned out to be very successful. Christians who refuse to give up quickly on a difficult marriage often enjoy a fine reward. Consider what can happen in a religiously divided household. The apostle Peter wrote: You wives, be in subjection to your own husbands, in order that, if any are not obedient to the word, they may be won without a word through the conduct of their wives, because of having been eyewitnesses of your chaste conduct together with deep respect. (1 Pet. 3:1, 2) Yes, because of his mates fine conduct, an unbeliever may embrace the true faith! Such a saved marriage honors God and can be a great blessing for the husband, the wife, and any children they may
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have.
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a desire to please Jehovah, most single Christians choose dedicated fellow believers as marriage mates. Even then, however, circumstances may take an unexpected turn. On rare occasions, for example, a mate may develop serious emotional problems. Or some time after the wedding, a spouse may become an inactive publisher. To illustrate: Linda, a zealous Christian and a devoted mother, watched helplessly as her baptized husband unrepentantly embarked on an unscriptural path and was disfellowshipped. What should a Christian do if his or her marriage bond seems hopelessly frayed for such a reason?
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I keep on trying to save my marriage no matter what happens? you might ask. Nobody can or should make such a decision for you. Yet, there are sound reasons for not giving up on a marital bond that is weakening. The godly man or woman who endures the trials of a difficult marriage for the sake of conscience is precious to God. (Read 1 Peter 2:19, 20.) By means of his Word and spirit, Jehovah will help a Christian whomakes earnest efforts to strengthen a strained marriage.

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