[Biblemat] A>Why Do Marriages Fail (Kent Heaton)

[Kent Heaton]

Why Do Marriages Fail

(Kent Heaton)

 

There was a time when the home was spoken of in terms of fidelity, honor and respect. More prevalent today is the home characterized by the broken hearts of marriages that no longer remain. The stain of tears fall upon pillows of sorrow daily as young love and not so young love has turned to disregard, disrespect and failing love in multitudes of homes. It is the norm that in every family there is the blight of broken marriages. Children are less likely to grow up in a home that is strong and vibrant with the foundation of a nurturing mother and father in a day when divorce is rampant. Man has turned on himself to destroy himself. When the home is broken, the nation is broken. 

"For I hate divorce," says the Lord, the God of Israel, "and him who covers his garment with wrong," says the Lord of hosts. "So take heed to your spirit that you do not deal treacherously" (Malachi 2:16). I doubt many people take heed to what the Lord says about divorce or there would not be so many today. Billboards should line the highways with this proclamation. But it would be of no avail. It has been in the word of God for over two thousand years and yet man persists on destroying the home and family by divorce.

Marriages fail for many reasons. The central reason marriages fail is selfishness. The selfish attitude of one who is seeking their own interest or happiness will bring a marriage to an end. This is self-love or self-preference to gain the wants and desires of ones own interest. This can lead to infidelity and the desire to find self-worth in someone else. Selfish motives lead couples to argue and fight and destroy the marriage.

The command of the Lord is to "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others" (Philippians 2:3-4). Marriages are destroyed for lack of humility, regard for one another and a deep seeded desire to seek the personal interest of self rather than the spouse. Conceit drives the passions to reject the pattern of the Lord for the selfish motives of the flesh.

Marriages are destroyed because Christ is not the center of the marriage. Any marriage will have difficult times and without God's help, there is no help. Putting the Lord first in the marriage will not allow for selfish reasons to be put before the other in demanding their rights in the marriage. Paul admonished the Philippians in Philippians 2:5-1 to have the mind of Christ. Husbands and wives must have that in their marriages. The command for husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church is not a passing suggestion (Ephesians 5). If a man or woman desires to walk in love (Ephesians 5:1-6), walk in the light (Ephesians 5:7-14) and walk in wisdom (Ephesians 5:15-21) they must fulfill the whole law and walk in the marriage pattern described by God in Ephesians 5:22-33.

Worldliness and the pursuit of money is the great home wrecker. Money causes the heads of husbands and wives to fill with a maddening desire to have more. While the gains of the world are achieved the loss of the home is realized - and for what? Thirty pieces of silver is all they get (1 Timothy 6). Marriages fail because we fail. Marriages succeed because we fail and the Lord picks us up and helps us keep going. Trust in HIM!


Kent Heaton
207 NE Fourth Avenue
Trenton, Florida 32693
352-463-6916
kerux at bellsouth.net
www.trentonchurchofchrist.com
www.northfloridabiblecamp.com
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