In yesterday’s message we talked about marriage from God’s viewpoint. We looked at issues such as, what is God’s design for marriage? What is God’s purpose for marriage? And we even saw the deeper meaning of marriage in that it is to reflect the relationship between Jesus and the church. This blog is meant to further that discussion more. In this blog we will look at an issue only briefly touched on yesterday. That issue is, what about a spouse who is a believer being married to someone who is not a believer?
This is certainly a very important topic to discuss, because it is a very real issue in 2018 as it has been for many years. What does God’s Word have to say on this topic? My goal is to keep this as simple and straightforward as possible. But the Bible says the following on marriage between a believer and an unbeliever:
- First, the Bible tells us not to be unequally yoked (2 Cor. 6:14). While we may not have control over a lot of things in this life, who to marry is something that God has given us the ability to decide. We need to take that privilege very seriously. The simplest way to avoid the trouble that is coming if you marry an unbeliever is to not marry them in the first place. Pray for them, share the Gospel with them, be friends with them, but don’t enter into the holy covenant of marriage with them unless and until they become a genuine follower of Jesus.
- Second, let’s say that when you got married you both were unbelievers, but since then by God’s grace you have become a believer, what are you to do then? Scripture would say to stay (1 Cor. 7:12). I love what Paul says in verse 16 of that passage. He basically says, you never know the influence you will have over them, and by your holy living, you might be used by God to draw the unbelieving spouse to the Gospel. As I said yesterday in service, ladies you hold an incredible amount of sway over your husbands. Leverage that for good!
- Next, what do you do in the meantime? If the husband is the believer, sacrificially love your wife( Eph. 5:25). If the wife is the believer, submit to your husband (Eph. 5:22). In other words, whichever one is the believer is to fulfill their obligation to their spouse as though they are doing it to and for the Lord Jesus. Of course the caveat here is, if your spouse is asking you to violate Scripture or deny your faith, then you are to honor and glorify God. No one, no matter who they are should be able to cause us to deny our Lord and live contrary to His Word.
- Finally, whether both spouses are believers or just one of them is a believer, pray for the other. Salvation is a work of God, not man. Satan will try to drive a wedge between husband and wife. His game plan from the beginning has been this, dismantle the family. Satan knows if he can dismantle the family, then he can destroy a nation, and do great harm to the Gospel. This is part of the invisible war that Paul talks about in Ephesians 6:12. A spiritual battle must be waged with spiritual weapons. Your greatest power and greatest tool is prayer.
Just remember the key to a successful walk with God, a successful marriage, a successful family, career, hobbies, etc is this, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Make Jesus and His righteousness your most passionate pursuit, and trust God to work in your heart and life and provide whatever He knows you need.
Pastor Justin