06/05/10

Is divorce okay by God?

Matthew 19:3 - 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?


The word divorce is a worldly concept, the same as marriage is. In the Bible when a man and woman came together, they became one flesh and they are no longer are seen are two individuals but one.

Marriage is the worldly legal term given to this coming together of two as one so as the record this in this worldly system. When man had problems in this system called marriage they found ways to get out of it and that is gave birth to divorce.

During the times of Moses the Lord allowed the two to separate only in situations where one partner is unfaithful to the other in sense of relationship. Man later added many other reasons and today by the law of the land, we have many clauses by which a marriage can be broken even among believers. What we have done is overcome the Lord by our own knowledge and cunningness. Ultimately it is our weakness of the flesh which is the cause of this.

Marriage is not an arrangement for two people to help each other being entertained or support to survive. Since people consider marriage a business agreement they also have ways to break this business agreement.

Thank God I live in India where keeping a marriage relationship is given serious thought unlike other countries. Although for the wrong reasons yet people seriously struggle to keep their marriages going.

We hear of people divorcing and getting married again, as soon as they go for holidays. Some celebrities / socialites are trying to outdo the others with the numbers of divorces and sometimes getting married to the same person they were once married to. It only shows their immaturity, foolishness and weakness of the flesh.

For believers to separate is like telling God is not there or is unable. The only possibility is that either one or both do not know God. If both know God then what is a relationship which God cannot mend. We may delay Him due to our weaknesses but surely all things are possible for Him.

Ever since I started work in the Lord I have seen even in the worst situations where one was out to kill the other, God has changed people and mend marriage relationships when even one partner has allowed the Lord to work.

In no circumstances other than one partner being unfaithful to the other (in physical relationship only) or is and hardened unbeliever are couples allowed to separate in marriage.

In my Church there are only few youths who are considering marriage and due to this one elder was very sad.

People, you need understand if a person has dedicated oneself to God (not necessarily given up worldly life but put God on priority number one), it is better for them not to marry. Understand God did not make everyone for marriage. Marriage is also a mission which God has given like ministering and setting up believer Churches; for a family is also a Church.

It is a great joy when two get married and form a family Church, but it is even greater joy when a person has the grace not to get married but to give priority to the Lord's work like in the case of Paul.

This decision of celibacy is not what a person can take by one's own decision without the required grace in that area. It is better for that person to get married then to keep struggling and loose one's soul (and God) in the bargain of trying to please God.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord God, although man and woman in spirit are one yet You made them male and female in the flesh. You instituted the coming together of man and woman so as to understand heavenly things. You made them in an image and with great understanding. Lord, help your people understand the institute of marriage and coming tighter of two bodies. Lord we pray for all those marriages which was facing turmoil, work in them and by your Spirit heal their relationships...

We make this prayer in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]
Matthew 19:3-12
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.
10 His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.
11 But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.
12 For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

1 Corinthians 7:12-17, 37-40
12 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.
13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.
16 For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?
17 But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.
37 Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.
38 So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.
39 The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.
40 But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

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