Solid Construction
November 16, 2023
Back in the 1970’s, I wrote some essays and posted them in the Island Dispatch, a local newspaper. Now, I have been retyping them to post online. If I have made any major edits, they will be bracketed { }…
Families are God’s greatest blessing. Why are they having so much trouble?
First of all, “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.” (Psalm 127) Like any building, the foundation of the house must be secure. The family needs to be built upon Jesus Christ.
{Readers might react to this as far too much an oversimplification, but this is just a basic dynamic view, a starting point, and there are much more complications that have to be considered in building according to God’s blueprint. They are discoverable, reasoned, and valid.}
Secondly, God wants to build us up, but Satan wants to tear us up. (see 1 Peter 5:7 — “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”). Besides, God is far greater than Satan, and a household active in Jesus, God, and the Bible will have them active in their household. Of course, that old wolf will come around,but he won’t be able to huff and puff and blow the house down.
Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice. I know them, and they will follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of my hand. (John 10:27–28)
If you want your marriage and family to be secure in God, begin laying the foundation by asking Jesus into your heart, to come into your life. Turn from the old sinful, selfish way to a new life of righteousness and faith.
* — {According to the Biblical blueprint, the foundation of marriage is twofold: partnership and companionship. But people overemphasize the companionship part, weakening the ability for the partnership aspect — like allowing the cement of the foundation to set and to cure over time.
“According to the American Psychological Association, approximately 40–50% of first marriages end in divorce. The divorce rate for second marriages is even higher, with approximately 60–67% of second marriages ending in divorce.” — https://www.petrellilaw.com/divorce-statistics
“Lack of Commitment Is the Most Common Reason for Divorce. In fact, 75% of individuals and couples cited lack of commitment as the reason for their divorce. Aug 8, 2023” — https://www.forbes.com/advisor/legal/divorce/divorce-statistic
Of course, there are other reasons cited on this site which make cracks in the foundation.
Christian marriages are not immune to divorce, either. “What are the causes of divorce in Christian marriages? A Christian marriage can fail when one or both partners fail to put the other’s needs ahead of their own. A man is to love his wife as Christ loves the church … — Quora — https://www.quora.com › Jun 30, 2021
Please note that there is some debate over the statistics for the Christian divorce rate, but even though it may be slightly lower at 25–48%, depending upon who you ask, it certainly indicates the problems are universal, and couples claiming Christian faith need to pay attention to and be more determined to follow God’s blueprint, also.
