In our last article we talked about the marriage commitment, for richer or for poorer. I had no idea how apropos that challenge would be. We are now facing extremely serious times in our country and it is likely that many who read this article will face great financial difficulties in the near future, if not already. Financial problems do not usually create marital problems, but they can reveal weaknesses in a marriage, that readily surface when pressure mounts. Sometimes a financial crisis will be the proverbial straw that breaks the camel’s back. Couples can often endure other kinds of problems, if there is enough money to spend on vacations, entertainment, or frivolous activities that at least take one’s mind off the more serious issues of life. When money is tight, bills are unpaid and there is nothing extra, everyone is on edge.

This is a time for serious prayer, tender communication about the reality of the situation, and recognition that everyone in the family may be hurting. Words and attitudes need to be guarded. Remember Paul’s warning in Ephesians 4:29, Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth.

If there have been marital problems, this is a time to commit to the permanency of your marriage. Regardless of the pressures and regardless of how your mate might respond to the difficult times, renew your commitment in your own heart. Matthew 26:41 says, Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Remember Peter’s warning from I Peter 5:8, Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. Don’t let him devour you and your spouse.

“Belt tightening” is not easy and few people seem to have the fortitude to do it. In fact, in my experience, when things are financially difficult, many throw all to the wind and spend far beyond their means. A spending spree can give artificial happiness for the moment, but eventually reality must be faced.

Marriage and the financial challenges that often accompany it are primarily spiritual matters. Face them that way and remember, when finances are tight, how we handle the situation will reveal a lot about the condition of our marriage. Financial pressure, as all pressure, will either drive us together or tear us apart. When there is an unshakeable commitment to our marriage even financial disaster will not destroy our spiritual union in Christ.

For richer or for poorer is a promise that is going to be tested in many families for the foreseeable future. Times may be tough, but we read in Malachi 3:6, I am the LORD, I change not. There is our hope. There is our strength.

Let’s pick up where we left off in our last article dealing with prayer. Romans 8:27 says, And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. We took note last time that verse 27 shows that our Heavenly Father is ready to respond to our needs as brought to His throne by the Holy Spirit.  The Father is the one who searches our hearts. He examines us to see if we are pure in heart and committed to His will and His glory. And He knows the burdens of our hearts even when we do not know how to express them properly in prayer. The Spirit of God takes those burdens and lays them before God’s throne in harmony with His will. I will emphasize again the wonderful work of the Holy Spirit in our prayer life. We do not pray to the Holy Spirit, but rather we pray to the Father by the intercessory ministry of the Holy Spirit.  

    Let’s move on to verse 28. I am quoting it in this article for your thoughtful consideration. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. This wonderful text is quoted often by believers and applied to many situations. I think that is fine, but I would like to ask you to think about it in light of the context in which Paul wrote it. It is given in Paul’s discussion on prayer. Please take time to open your Bible and read Romans 8: 26-28. I have a line drawn in my Bible from the, we know not of verse 26 to the, we know of verse 28. Please think about these things and how they apply to you. We will discuss them next time.

                                         One of the most difficult experiences for me in ministering to families is to see children caught in the middle of conflict between their parents. There is an incredible selfishness displayed when adults decide to use their own children to hurt their spouse. Surely the spouse gets hurt, but the damage done to the child is immeasurable. Sometimes it comes by harsh words from one to the other in the presence of the children. Sometimes it is one parent complaining to a child about the other parent. Sometimes one parent will “befriend” one of the children, giving them special favors to gain their support against the other parent. Sometimes one parent will speak unkindly to other people about the other parent and do so in the presence of the children. Sometimes, when a child is rebuked or disciplined by one parent, the other will console the child to engender anger or bitterness in the child toward the other parent. And of course we see those tragic times when a child is asked to choose between love and loyalty to one parent over the other. These and similar actions by parents are sinful and cannot be justified.

I have had parents tell me how amazed they are that their children seem to be handling the family problems so well. I want to tell you that no child handles such problems well, and will be marred for life by the heartache and conflict they are called upon to endure. In Mark 10:13-16 we read, And they brought young children to Him, that He should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me…  And He took them up in His arms, put His hands upon them and blessed them. Dads and Moms need to protect their children from these hurts. Do not victimize these precious children.

Can you believe wonderful Christmas is quickly approaching? How fast the year goes. It seems like we just had a Labor Day picnic and here we are ready to spend more quality time with our family and friends. What a blessing to think of the opportunities we’ll have to proclaim our Savior’s birth to those we meet. If there wasn’t a virgin birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, there would not have been the perfect sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross to pay the penalty for our sin. I love Christmas time! Hearts seem to be more receptive to hear the gospel story. We can invite people to church to hear the special Christmas programs. Often they might come because of the special time of year. It is such a short time, but if we are ready each day, perhaps we can see our neighbors, friends and family come to the Lord. Plan to do something special this year to reach out to your neighbors to share the real meaning of Christmas. May God richly bless you and yours at this very special time. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved, John 3:16 & 17.

Another Website!

www.christianitypureandsimple.org

*Our new website is being established as an evangelistic tool. It will be a video presentation to explain the gospel and accompanying Bible truths to all who watch. We will promote the site in various ways and hope you will direct unsaved friends and family to hear a pure and simple presentation of God’s offer of salvation to all who will believe. We hope to have it up by early December.

Atheists are busy!

The American Humanist Association has launched an ad

that will be put on buses and in newspapers all over the country. The ad will say, Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness sake. This is one more attack on our beloved USA. We suggest one small way to stand for God’s truth; order 10 or more copies of our booklet on Culture Collapse and hand them out.