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Dripping Springs Weekly Bulletins
Make Your Marriage Last 50+ Years
Marriage has taken some shots lately, from comics and movie stars, presidents and preachers. It almost seems good marriages are almost extinct in today’s world. But that should not be true among Christians.
We often hear that half of all marriages end in divorce, but that is not really true. The numbers are more like one in three, which is bad enough. God “hates divorce,” Malachi 2:16, and has made it clear that marriage is for life, Romans 7:2-3, 1 Corinthians 7:39. It was Jesus who said, “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder,” Mark 10:9. When a man and woman marry, they make a covenant with each other and with God. To break that covenant is sin, and requires repentance.
In just the last few weeks I have come to realize that several of our members have been married for over 50 years. They are to be commended for keeping their covenant with each other and with God.
- Neal and Fran Bangs—51 years
- Marvin and Mary Crumley—52 years
- Billy and Alma Garnett—56 years
- Harland and Zudie Moore—51 years
- Doug and Willie Ray Morgan—62 years
- Bud and Gwen Worthy—60 years next month
Add to that number the Reddings—47 years, the Dalleys—47 years, the Billy Hydes—48 years, and we have a number of good examples of those who know what marriage is and how to keep it going as God has commanded. Congratulations to all of you.
I doubt if any of those mentioned above would suggest that there were no disagreements or problems in their years of marriage. Nor did God promise marriage would eliminate all discord. But when the right attitude toward God’s Word and each other exists, any problem can and will be worked out.
The following are some qualities that must be found in a marriage if it is to be the home God commends:
- The determination to make your marriage work no matter what problems arise. Many enter into marriage with the attitude, “We’ll try it out and see if it works.” But that very attitude can be the downfall of any endeavor, whether it be at school, on the job, or in your marriage. Make up your mind that your marriage is going to work.
- A mutual desire to “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,” Matthew 6:33. When problems arise in marriage—and they always do—they must be solved with biblical principles. If both husband and wife are Christians committed to being faithful to God, divorce will never be an option.
- A relationship built upon love and respect. The well-known words of 1 Corinthians 13:1-7 describe the way any Christian should deal with life. What a beautiful gift God has given to us—the gift of being able to love and be loved. Genuine love can solve any problem and make marriage a “vestibule of heaven.”
- Strong parental guidance. No home can be happy and as good an influence as God wants it to be if children are not being trained and taught godly behavior. Discipline and encouragement result in pleasant surroundings for all, as well as hope for the future. I have been told by others that there is no ache so sharp as heartache for a rebellious child. Read 1 Samuel 3:1-10, Judges 2:10 and Proverbs 22:6.
- Each one carrying out his/her role in the family. We know there must be order—even a chain of command—in any endeavor, and the home is no different. Fathers have a role to fulfill. Mothers have their responsibilities. Children have an important place in the family. You can be sure that if you follow God’s instructions your home can be happy and productive of much good. See Ephesians 5-6, 1 Peter 2-3.
- Putting your approval on “things that are excellent.” This was the prayer of Paul for the Philippians (1:9-11), and better words could not be used to describe a home in which love, fairness, righteousness and good works abound. How can any family be peaceful and content when drunkenness, abuse, adultery and fear exist. Consider the “fruit of the Spirit,” Galatians 5:23-26, as qualities needed in the family trying to rear children in the ways of truth.
- An environment in which “iron sharpeneth iron,” Proverbs 27:17. There are times when husband, wife and children all serve as exhortation to do our best, to make full use of our time and talents. This calls on wives to strengthen the resolve of their husbands, and vice-versa. Children often serve as strong reminders of what a home should be. In this, we spur each other on to greater service to God and man.
Thanks to the Bangs, Crumleys, Garnetts, Moores, Morgans, Worthys, Reddings, Dalleys and Hydes. You are a genuine inspiration to all of us.
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“The difficulty with marriage is that we fall in love with a personality, but must live with a character.”
“It takes two to make marriage a success, but only one to make it a failure.”
“God help the man who will not marry until he finds the perfect woman, and God help him more if he finds her.”
“Marriage resembles a pair of scissors, so joined that they cannot be separated; often moving in opposite directions, yet always punishing anyone who comes between them.”
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