While men bring many things upon themselves, there
is one issue that supersedes all others: The trust of a woman. Men
want women that they can trust. (Of course women will say that women
want men that they can trust.). This is understandable. Both
men and women need to be able to find trustworthy members of the opposite
gender. As a matter of fact that is how strong teams are formed (through
mutual trust).
Our hedonistic society does not foster trust. It fosters
individualism and "it's your thing, do what you want to do" philosophies.
Women particularly find themselves bombarded with this philosophy
daily. It is a staple of the women's liberation movement. Thus,
trust is not a major factor (choice is). So, women may choose to be
faithful in marriage or to not be faithful. Women may choose to remain
married until "death us do part" or they may "choose" to not do so. This
"opportunity" to "opt out" is playing havoc with relationships. Most
men of any reasoning ability would be skeptical about forming a team with
a woman who may "opt out". The prospect of doing so is daunting. Who
wants to walk around for the rest of his life having to face the fact the
some other man has his wife? Oh, I know it happens often but it is
not a pleasant situation. Regardless of all the "spin" the psychiatrists
and divorce lawyers try to put on it, it is not a pretty picture nor is it
a pleasant situation. Divorce is a serious cancer on the face of our
contemporary society.
Who wants to get married while simultaneously fearing divorce?
Only someone who has sinister ulterior motives would seek marriage
for the purpose of perpetrating a divorce. Yet, people are counseled
to "go ahead and get married, if it doesn't work out you can get a divorce".
That is Satanic advice. It is straight from the pit of hell.
Yet, it has become an operative part of our current social thought.
I was reading Proverbs Chapter 31 today and a passage therein
drove home the above points. The passage is found in verses 10, 11,
and 12. The passage reads thusly:
10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her
price is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband doth safely
trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12 She will do him good and not evil
all the days of her life. (Proverbs 31:10-12) The Holy
Bible
First of all, the passage says that trust follows virtue. The
price of a virtuous woman (says the passage) is far above rubies. (I
wholeheartedly agree!!!) The passage goes on to assure us that the
heart of the husband of the virtuous woman does safely trust in her. That
is a statement that a man can understand. Many men are skeptical.
We examine, evaluate and test. We don't like to be wrong. We
don't like to be suckered. We don't like to be fooled. We refuse
to set our heart on that which is questionable. Thus, if the woman
is not virtuous, we are not likely to give ourselves wholly to her. That
is a tragedy because God commands full commitment of husband to wife and
wife to husband. Most of the contemporary psychologists, social theorists,
women libbers and divorce lawyers make no such demand. Again,
many of them advise, "go ahead and get married, if it doesn't work out you
can get a divorce." In so doing, they do women in particular (and
society in general) a great disservice. Thus we have a whole generation
of women that, for the most part, have been improperly educated and improperly
socialized in matters pertaining to trust and marriage.
I have been married thirty-three years. During that time my
marriage has been impacted by those unGodly philosophies. However,
by the Grace of God we have weathered the storms. However, if I had
to choose a wife today I would find it very difficult to do so. Why?
It would be difficult because I would never consider marrying someone
in whom my heart could not safely trust. I would never consider marrying
someone in whose mind divorce is an option. For the last thirty years
our society (in the United States of America) has taught girls and women
that divorce is a viable option. That is not what God says. God
knows best. Gods knows that the heart of the husband needs to be able
to safely trust in his wife ALL THE DAYS OF HER LIFE. The unGodly psychologists,
divorce lawyers, and contemporary social theorists do not know that fact.
Thus they devise and advise divorce as an option. God's standard
is more reliable. Here is what God says:
3 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting
him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for
every cause?
4 And he answered and said unto them,
Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male
and female,
5 And said, For this cause shall a
man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain
shall be one flesh?
6 Wherefore they are no more twain,
but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man
put asunder.
7 They say unto him, Why did Moses
then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?
8 He saith unto them, Moses, because
of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but
from the beginning it was not so.
9 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. (Matthew 19:3-9) The Holy Bible
Thus Jesus, in this discussion with the Pharisees, sets the record
straight. From the beginning, says he, divorce was not what God intended.
Jesus is very clear about God's will for husband, wife and marriage.
In an account by the gospel writer Mark, we read:
2 And the Pharisees came to him, and asked
him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him
.
3 And he answered and said unto them,
What did Moses command you?
4 And they said, Moses suffered to
write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.
5 And Jesus answered and said unto
them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.
6 But from the beginning of the creation
God made them male and female.
7 For this cause shall a man leave
his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;
8 And they twain shall be one flesh:
so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.
9 What therefore God hath joined together,
let not man put asunder. (Mark 10:2-9) The Holy Bible
Is it any wonder that some of the so-called "intellectuals" of today
are advising us to "move on" beyond the traditional beliefs of the past?
They have distorted God's meaning for the husband, wife and family.
They have taught and advised lies. Divorce is rampant, families
are facing many types of stress, children have seen their world explode in
their faces and the unGodly professionals are laughing all the way to the
bank. And the churches, sad to say but, many are not grasping the extent
of the devastation that is being wrought by this departure from the word
of God. What are they preaching? Well, listen to them. How
many ministers are preaching that divorce is a sin? Not many, I surmise.
Rather, many churches are performing ceremonies for people who are
divorced. So, right in the "Holy" place, the deadly philosophy of divorce
and remarriage is prevailing.
At this point some of you are appalled. You are surprised that
I would hold such "ancient" beliefs. You thought that I was a somewhat
"educated" minister who had "moved on" past some of the unpopular beliefs
of the past. I understand your feeling. I understand you sentiments.
You, too, have been snared by the unGodly philosophies of our era.
How do I know? I know because I gave you the word of God (above)
and you are still processing information through manmade filters. I
quoted for you holy scriptures from two gospel writers and you still have
not changed your mind. They got you. Yes, they got you too.
As for me, I stand on the word of God. It has cost me hundreds
of thousands of dollars and many lost preaching opportunities but I still
stand (on the word of God). No, people do not want to hear this type
of message. They do not want this kind of preaching (they have told
me so). Yet, I refuse to compromise. Why? I refuse to
compromise because I have no right to do so. I have no command to
compromise. I have no mandate to compromise. What's more, to
compromise is to disobey God. Disobedience to God equals sin.
"Inflexible", you say. " Inflexibility will get you nowhere." I
hear you and I understand the theories you are espousing. However,
God chose me and I have chosen Him. Jesus Christ suffered for me and
I am willing to suffer for Him. I will obey Him and follow Him wherever
the road leads. Thus far the road has led to many uncomfortable destinations
but I have not denied my Lord. Some fifteen to twenty years ago I
was faced with a very challenging situation and had to quickly decide to
appease man or follow God. It happened on this wise: A man and
woman at our church wanted to get married. The pastor was out of town
and they came to me and said they were ready to get married. They said
that the pastor had told them that whenever they were ready to get married
they could come and get married. They were dressed that Sunday Morning.
The young woman had a vase of flowers in her hand. I knew and
loved them both. However, I understood that the man had been married
and had a family in another city. They (this man and woman) were very good
workers in the church. Yet, I had to decide to stand with God or stand
with man. I refused to allow the marriage to proceed (I was the associate
minister in charge that Sunday Morning). The young lady cried. The
man was not pleased. The following week the pastor returned. I
assume he married them. The next Sunday Morning there was a reserved
place for the two of them on the church's front pew. In the
pulpit the pastor made some remarks (to the congregation) that I took
as being chastisement. However, my mind was not changed nor was my
will swayed. I had (and have) no regret for having stood on the word
of God.
10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her
price is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband doth
safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12 She will do him good and not evil
all the days of her life. (Proverbs 31:10-12) The Holy
Bible
Divorce is a device from Hell. It is wreaking havoc in many
of our families. The uncertainty of a lifelong marital commitment
is hindering many men from marrying women and starting families. By
teaching lies we have sown the wind and are reaping the whirlwind. A
wise man will not marry a woman in whom his heart cannot trust. A
wise woman will not suck down the unGodly philosophies of our contemporary
society.
A word to men: Let us not imagine that our present plight is
the fault of women. God holds men responsible for what happens on planet
Earth. God gave Adam the law. Man (meaning the
male human specie) is responsible for the current malady.
Oh, you may say "the women are the ones teaching it". That's
not the point. God still holds the man responsible. It is us,
not them. They are our daughters. We allowed them to be taught
the lies. We didn't stand up and fight back. We folded. We
caved. We gave up and gave in. The result: now our sons
and grandsons are having an awful hard time finding a virtuous woman in whom
their hearts can safely trust. I know you don't want to hear it but
there it is. God will visit (punish) us for this evil we have perpetrated
upon His world. We have sinned (grievously so). Satan's children
are reading this and laughing. As you know, they have no intention
of changing. Actually, they don't care. However, if you are a
child of God you have an inner light that lets you know that you need to
do something. And, you know what that "something" is. You need
to repent. You need to ask God to forgive you. You need to ask
God to show you what to do about this tragic situation. You need do
it now.
Let us all begin anew to say what God says and do what Gods says do.
That is what is required if a woman is to be able to trust a man.
That is what is required if a man is to be able to trust a woman.###
Copyright©2004 Clarence William Page