DIVORCE

DIVORCE

Matthew 5:31-32 "You have heard the law that says, 'A man can divorce his wife by merely giving her a written notice of divorce.'  (32)  But I say that a man who divorces his wife, unless she has been unfaithful, causes her to commit adultery. And anyone who marries a divorced woman also commits adultery.

I know there are those of you reading this who have been divorced. Please understand that divorce is not the unpardonable sin. Also, there is more to the full story about marriage, divorce and remarriage than Jesus covers in this short passage. For the sake of this study I don’t intend to go into all of that, but urge you to study it further on your own. Jay Adams has an excellent book titled, Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage that covers all the scriptures dealing with this subject.

I quoted part of Malachi yesterday and will add a verse to it today. Malachi 2:14-16 You cry out, "Why doesn't the LORD accept my worship?" I'll tell you why! Because the LORD witnessed the vows you and your wife made when you were young. But you have been unfaithful to her, though she remained your faithful partner, the wife of your marriage vows.  (15)  Didn't the LORD make you one with your wife? In body and spirit you are His. And what does He want? Godly children from your union. So guard your heart; remain loyal to the wife of your youth.  (16)  "For I hate divorce!" says the LORD, the God of Israel. "To divorce your wife is to overwhelm her with cruelty, "says the LORD of Heaven's Armies. "So guard your heart; do not be unfaithful to your wife."

In God’s economy marriage is not a disposable commodity and yet, even in the church many treat it as such. God’s desire for marriage is the procreation of godly children. For that to happen the parents must be godly. In part, that means we treat each other with love and respect. Men, your wife is not a lesser creature. She is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Love her and live with her with understanding. (1Peter 3:7 my paraphrase)

Both men and women have come to me over the years looking for ways to make their spouses conform to the scriptures. Read this carefully… It doesn’t work that way. Your approach has to be to ask yourself, “Am I following the scriptures? Am I doing my part? Am I living out what I know the scriptures teach I am to do?” 1Pe 3:1b-2a “They will be won over by observing your pure and reverent lives.” This passage is speaking specifically to the wife’s duties, but that phrase can also be true of a husband who loves his wife God’s way.

God hates divorce. He says it “overwhelms her with cruelty.” The same is true when the wife divorces the husband. It is cruel in God’s sight. He sees marriage as a covenant. In a covenant each party involved agrees to do his/her part. In a contract each party only agrees to do his part if the other party does hers. I urge you to work with your spouse as much as possible by first making certain you are doing what the scripture requires of you. Treat your marriage as a covenant, not a contract.

Father in heaven, Your Word tells us that he who finds a wife finds a good thing. May we be found faithful in loving our spouses. Give us hearts that love as You love. Help us see our spouses as our equal partners in the gift of new life You have given us. And for those of us whose spouses are not following You and Your ways, may our godly, loving lives win them over to You. In Jesus Name, AMEN!!!