MARRIAGE PROBLEMS

THE INSTITUTIONS OF HOME AND MARRIAGE ARE BEING SEVERELY ATTACKED TODAY. SATAN IS WORKING IN MANY LIVES LIVES AND MARRIAGE PROBLEMS ARE CONTINUING TO BECOME MORE NUMEROUS.

THERE IS A STRONG TENDENCY TOWARD SELFISHNESS: INDIVIDUALS THINK IN TERMS OF RECEIVING RATHER THAN GIVING. ALONG WITH THE SELFISHNESS, PEOPLE LEAN TOWARD BLAMING OTHERS FOR AND EXCUSING THEMSELVES OF FAULTS AND MISTAKES. SUCH INDULGENCE IN SELF PITY ONLY SHORT CIRCUITS THEIR FAITH IN GOD. AS JUDGMENTS INCREASE LOVE DECREASES. GOD CAN WORK OUT PROBLEMS IN A MARVELOUS AND REDEMPTIVE WAY EVEN WHEN THERE SEEMS TO BE NO HOPE.

SOMETIMES DEMONIC FORCES CAUSE AN INDIVIDUAL TO BECOME INVOLVED IN ALCOHOL, UNFAITHFULNESS, LACK OF CONSIDERATION, AND EVEN CRUELTY IN A RELATIONSHIP. SOME INDIVIDUALS ARE UNDOUBTEDLY THE VICTIMS OF GROSS SINS ON THE PART OF THE OTHER INDIVIDUAL. OFTEN THERE ARE TWO SIDES TO THE MATTER, BUT THERE ARE TIMES WHEN DEMONIC FORCES ARE OPPRESSING ONE INDIVIDUAL IN AN UNUSUAL WAY. IN EPHESIANS 6: 12 WE READ: “FOR WE WRESTLE NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD, BUT AGAINST PRINCIPALITIES, AGAINST POWERS, AGAINST RULERS OF THE DARKNESS OF THIS WORLD, AGAINST SPIRITUAL WICKEDNESS IN HIGH PLACES.”

SOMETIMES THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE OPPRESSED AND MOTIVATED BY EVIL FORCES THAT NEED TO BE BOUND IN THE NAME OF JESUS. MATTHEW 18: 16

EMPHASIS AT TIMES HAS BEEN ONLY ON SUBMISSION FOR WOMEN (EPHESIANS 5: 22, 23). HOWEVER, PRIOR TO THE INDIVIDUAL INSTRUCTIONS IN EPHESIANS THERE IS AN EXHORTATION TO SUBMIT ONE TO ANOTHER (EPHESIANS 5: 21). THE EXHORTATIONS FOR THE HUSBAND TO LOVE THE WIFE AND BE CONCERNED FOR HER ARE STRONG. IF THESE ATTITUDES PREVAIL AND CHRIST IS TRULY THE LORD OF EACH LIFE AND THE CENTER OF THE HOME, MARRIAGE AND FAMILY CAN BE A BIT OF HEAVEN ON EARTH.

THE SCRIPTER’S SPEAK OF THE WIFE BEING IN SUBMISSION TO THE HUSBAND. HE IS TO EXERCISE A POSITION OF SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP. HOWEVER, IF THE HUSBAND IS UNSAVED AND HIGHLY MOTIVATED BY SATAN, THERE COMES TIMES WHEN NATURAL ROLES CANNOT BE FOLLOWED. A GODLY WIFE MAY LIVE IN SUBMISSION TO HER UNSAVED HUSBAND, BUT AT SOME POINT SHY MAY HAVE TO SAY NO TO HIS WAY OF LIFE.

IF A HUSBAND ASKS HIS WIFE TO GO WITH HIM AND COMMIT ARMED ROBBERY, SHE MUST REFUSE, BECAUSE SUCH AN ACT IS A CRIME AGAINST GOD’S HIGHER LAW. WE ARE TO LOVE AND OBEY HIM ABOVE ALL OTHERS. IT I NOT ALWAYS EASY TO KNOW WHERE TO DRAW THE LINE, BUT LINES HAVE TO TO BE DRAWN AT SOME POINT.

THERE IS ALSO A LIMIT TO THE CRUELTY AND INHUMANITY TO WHICH INDIVIDUALS CAN SUBMIT. SOMETIMES IT IS A SUBMITTING TO DEMONIC FORCES. THE GRACE AND WISDOM GOD WILL GIVE YOU (JAMES 1: 5) ARE OFTEN NEEDED IN HELPING AN INDIVIDUAL THROUGH THESE PROBLEMS. GOD’S WILL IS FOR MARRIAGE TO BE A WONDERFUL RELATIONSHIP.

THERE ARE UNEQUALLY YOKED SITUATIONS WHICH HAVE DEVELOPED SINCE MARRIAGE DUE TO THE COMMITMENT OF ONE MARITAL PARTNER TO CHRIST. PROBLEMS DEVELOP, BUT WE NEED TO KEEP TRUSTING AND BELIEVING HIM.

SCRIPTURES CONCERNING MARRIAGE PROBLEMS

“WAIT ON THE LORD: BE OF GOOD COURAGE, AND HE SHALL STRENGTHEN THINE HEART: WAIT, I SAY, ON THE LORD.” PSALM 27: 14

“HE HEALETH THE BROKEN HEART, AND BINDETH UP THEIR WOUNDS.”
PSALM 147: 3

“WIVES, SUBMIT YOURSELVES UNTO YOUR OWN HUSBANDS, AS UNTO THE LORD. FOR THE HUSBAND IS THE HEAD OF THE WIFE, EVEN AS CHRIST IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH.” EPHESIANS 5: 22, 23

“NEVERTHELESS LET EVERY ONE OF YOU IN PARTICULAR SO LOVE HIS WIFE EVEN AS HIMSELF; AND THE WIFE SEE THAT SHE REVERENCE HER HUSBAND.” EPHESIANS 5: 33

“LIKEWISE, YE HUSBANDS, DWELL WITH THEM ACCORDING TO KNOWLEDGE, GIVING HONOR UNTO THE WEAKER VESSEL, AND AS BEING HEIRS TOGETHER OF THE GRACE OF LIFE; THAT YOUR PRAYERS BE NOT HINDERED.” 1 PETER 3: 7