Morning Devotions with Chaplain Kenny - Wedlock Should Be a Padlock

Wedlock Should Be a Padlock

All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

~ Matthew 5:37 (NIV)

There’s no doubt, particularly as life spans have increased, that there is less certainty about finding and keeping lifelong love with just one person. A 2014 survey of 18 to 34 year-olds commissioned by the USA Network drama Satisfaction found that 43 percent would support a beta marriage model—testing relationships for two years before deciding to commit or dissolve.

Also, 36 percent of respondents backed the real estate marriage model in which couples would commit to a set period of time, ranging from five to thirty years, and at the end have to renegotiate if they want to remain married.

If you think this has some validity, let me help you out: The beta and real estate tests are not going to work. They’re already setting the stage for failure.

A successful marriage is a total commitment. It means that either you go for it or you don’t go for it. If you’re not sure that you’re marrying the right person, then don’t get married. It was Benjamin Franklin who said, “Keep your eyes wide open before marriage and half shut afterwards.”

I think the problem is that we walk into marriage with our eyes half shut. Sometimes a person will think, “This person has a lot of flaws, but he (or she) will be my project. I’m going to fix him (or her).” News flash: If you can’t love someone as they are, if you think you’re going to change them, then you’ll be in for a real shock.

Figure this out ahead of time, because wedlock should be a padlock. If you aren’t married yet—even if you’re engaged—and things aren’t working out, then go ahead and break up. If you are not willing to make that commitment, then do everyone a favor and stay single.

Dear Heavenly Father, on our wedding day, we vowed to stay committed to each other until “Death do us part.” When we joyfully made that promise, we didn’t know how many hardships we’d need to walk through together. We didn’t realize the amount of tears we’d shed or just how difficult marriage would be at times. Please help us to reject the popular idea that love should always be easy. We want to be ready to work on the commitment, selflessness, understanding, and sacrifice that it takes to have a thriving marriage. Show us how to continually embrace true and lasting Biblical love towards each other. Please convict us when we need to repent from a sin or when we should extend forgiveness so that our home may flourish under the guidance of Your light and truth. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

In Jesus,
Chaplain Kenny

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Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Devotion © 2018 Harvest Christian Fellowship; all rights reserved.
A successful marriage is a total commitment.