Topic(s): Marriage

How to have a great marriage Your marriage does not have to be just good; it can be great! What separates good marriages from great ones?

Give God His place in your marriage. Remember that Solomon said, “A threefold cord is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12). Couples who strive to build a relationship with Christ at its center enjoy an enormous advantage over those who do not (Psalm 127:1).

Remember your vows. Husbands, did you promise to love, honor, cherish, and protect your spouse, forsaking all others? Wives, did you promise to love, honor, cherish, and obey your spouse, forsaking all others? Consider Matthew 19:9 and Hebrews 13:4.

Express love each day. “Show . . . the proof of your love” (2 Corinthians 8:24).

Appreciate one another. When you stop to count your blessings, do not forget to count your spouse! “Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing” (Proverbs 18:22). An attitude of ingratitude will eventually manifest itself in selfish and disrespectful behavior toward one another.

Treat one another as the most important person in the world. Who on earth is more important to you than your spouse? In terms of your relationships with others, no relationship is as important to maintain and cherish than the one you have with your spouse. —Rod Halliburton

Unmarried, but Expecting

Topic(s): Children, Wisdom

What should an unmarried couple do when expecting a child? Such is hardly unusual in our day, and ministers are often asked the question. What counsel does the Bible give?

First, forgiveness is necessary. Fornication has been committed, which is a work of the flesh (Galatians 5:19–21) and a sin unlike any other (1 Corinthians 6:18–20). God’s forgiveness is precipitated upon repentance (Luke 24:47), which is change or conversion (Acts 3:19). It comes from genuine sorrow (2 Corinthians 7:10). It is important that sinners be ashamed of their sins (Jeremiah 6:15).

In the case of those who have never obeyed the gospel, repentance must follow belief in Christ as God’s Son (John 3:16) and accompany a public confession of Christ as Lord (Romans 10:9–10). It must be followed by immersion in water for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). Baptism washes away the guilt of the sin of fornication, and all other sins, too (Acts 22:16). In the case of those who have previously been saved, the sin must be confessed to God in prayer (1 John 1:9; Acts 8:22) and to brethren who will also pray (James 5:16; Acts 8:24).

Second, abortion must not be considered. For many, abortion would be an appropriate escape from the consequences of their misbehavior, but this is nothing short of murder, which is, of course, a more grievous sin (Revelation 21:8). In God’s Word, the occupant of the womb is consistently described, not as a fetus or an embryo, but as a child, a son, or a babe (Ruth 1:11; Job 3:3; Luke 1:36, 41, 44). Under the Old Testament, such a child enjoyed the full protection of the law (Exodus 21:22–25), and so it ought to be today. God still hates “hands that shed innocent blood” (Proverbs 6:16–17).

Third, do not rush into a marriage. The prospect of marriage should be considered only with the greatest of caution. A poor choice in the matter of matrimony could very well serve to intensify existing trouble (1 Samuel 25; Proverbs 21:9, 19; 25:24; 27:15). If the involved parties are so lacking in self-control that they cannot refrain from further sexual immorality, then marriage would be worth considering (1 Corinthians 7:1–2), but they must remember that divorce would not be an option (Matthew 5:32; 19:9). Marriage is a lifelong commitment (Romans 7:1–2), so wisdom should be sought (James 1:5).

Fourth, the father should not surrender his parental responsibility. It would be sinful to neglect the child’s material needs (1 Timothy 5:8; Matthew 7:7–11). Children need fathers to provide discipline (Hebrews 12:7–11; Proverbs 13:24). Most important, fathers are duty bound to instruct their children in God’s Word (Ephesians 6:4; Proverbs 22:6; Deuteronomy 6:6–9). —Bryan Matthew Dockens, Las Vegas, NV

Kids Know Dogs

Topic(s): Humor

A nursery school teacher was delivering a car full of children home one day when a fire truck zoomed past. Sitting in the front seat of the fire truck was a Dalmatian dog. The children started discussing the dog’s duties.

“They use him to keep crowds back,” said one youngster.

“No,” said another, “he’s just for good luck.”

A third child brought the argument to a close. “They use the dogs,” she said firmly, “to find the fire hydrant.”

“A merry heart doeth good.” —Proverbs 17:22