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Dripping Springs Weekly Bulletins
"O, What a Tangled Web We Weave,
When First We Practice to Deceive"
Sir Walter Scott penned those words nearly 200 years ago, yet man continues to “practice to deceive.” We have been inundated with the details of a woman who is charged with the murder of her husband. I quote the victim’s daughter, the accused wife’s step-daughter:
“She stepped on the accelerator and went straight for him.”
The story is full of references to adultery, multiple marriages and all the sorrows that can accompany such ‘modern’ situations. The more you read, the more you realize the hazards of deceit, infidelity and divorce. Sad it is. That family will never be the same.
The main difference in this story and thousands—no, millions of other similar deceit-filled arrangements, is that some do not end in murder. However, in over four decades of seeing marriages threatened by deceit and lies, I can’t remember a one that was not filled with sorrow, rejection, disappointment, shame and resentment. When you promise your love and fidelity to someone, and then discard that person for another, you must expect some of those very consequences.
In Old Testament times, men became so callous and hard-hearted that their marriages were characterized by murder and abuse. For that cause God allowed divorce for a time. But when Jesus was questioned about divorce, He responded:
“For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; And they two shall be one flesh: so then they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter. And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery,” Mark 10:5-12.
God formed the home, with husband, wife and children as the foundation of human society. It was to be a haven of love, respect, truth and strength. But man was willing to break that relationship, violate the vows and the children for his/her own selfish desires. As a result, that which is intended as a blessing to all, often becomes a curse, even for those innocents who are associated with it.
No, most “broken homes,” as we have come to call them, do not end in murder and prison. But there can be no divorce in which deceit, lies and broken vows are not found. Divorce is a major problem in America.
How do we solve this problem? Can it be solved at all? If not, Jesus’ words mean nothing. Yes, it is a problem with a solution. But the solution is not without its ‘inconveniences.’
- We must teach our children that marriage is a permanent relationship. This teaching must begin early, for they need to understand that marriage is serious, a life-long commitment to their spouse long before they even begin to think about marriage.
- We must teach them in our sermons, in our Bible classes, in our homes and by our own examples of love and faithful devotion by both father and mother. We will have a hard time teaching this to our children if we are not living it in our own homes.
- Elders must determine that God’s truth on this subject will be taught and respected. We do not need preachers, elders, parents and teachers who will not teach this truth. Elders must insist that Jesus’ law of marriage be taught, and be determined that they will not give any encouragement to violators of that law.
- Every Christian should come to know that adultery, fornication, lust, broken vows, etc., are condemned by God’s Word. All of us should be familiar with Romans 1:21-32, Galatians 5:19-21, Ephesians 5:3-12 and Colossians 3:1-10. They will be part of that standard of behavior by which we shall be judged on that day. But then it will be too late to try to teach our children. Stay out of that “tangled web” of deceit.
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“He that once deceives is ever suspected.”
“And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery,”
“Happiness depends more on the inward disposition of mind than on the outward circumstances.”
“The indispensable requisite of happiness is a clear conscience.”
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