“Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” John 17:17
In today’s world, we are inundated with the latest self-help books, magazines, seminars, infomercials, products, dietary supplements, and spiritual experiences that promise to improve your love life with your mate. All pale in comparison to the greatest book ever written in the history of man on human relationships, the Holy Bible. God created man in His image, who better to know what is required for us to get along?
When I was first faced with the possibility of divorce, I searched my local Christian bookstore for every book I could find on marriage, parenting, and family living. After reading about five dozen of these books while my wife pursued a divorce, it dawned on me that the Bible could be renamed Human Relationships 101. Everything we need to know for getting along with others, especially our spouse and children, is contained in God’s Word. After seeking the world’s solutions to my problems for years, I had the best book written on the subject right before me. That day I dedicated myself to searching God’s Word to answer the issues I faced on any given day. God has never failed to show me exactly what I needed, right when I needed it!
Most Bibles have subject listings at the back with references to relevant verses. If yours does not, check your local bookstore for one that does. By turning to God’s Word, you will never again have to rely on the world’s psychobabble for the solution to your problems. While the following scriptures are by no means all-inclusive, they are some of the verses the Lord led me to during my stand for my marriage. Ask God where He would lead you in searching for answers to the problems you may face in your marriage relationship.
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2
… serve one another humbly in love.For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. Galatians 5:13-15
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5:22
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Galatians 6:7-10
“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Ephesians 4:26-27
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:29-32
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Be very careful, then, how you live – not as the unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:8-10,15-20
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Ephesians 5:21
Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Philippians 2:1-4
Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. Philippians 2:14-16
Grumbling, fault finding and complaining? That is why it took the Israelites 40 years to complete an 11-day journey through the desert to the Promised Land. There is power in our words to bless or to curse. We need to remember that when speaking to our spouse.
May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14
What a glorious place our homes would be if we operated on these verses.
God bless,
Dennis Wingfield
