What does the Bible say about marriage and divorce? Is divorce always forbidden? What about remarriage, singleness, and sex, both inside and outside of marriage? Does the Bible really address those subjects and, if so, does it have any relevance for today?
Also, in the book of Job, God talks about many of the amazing animals He created: the horse with all his strength and fearlessness, the hawk, the eagle, and a huge sea creature called Leviathan.
In fact, He dedicated an entire chapter, 34 verses, to this creature called Leviathan. Was he a giant reptile, possibly a dinosaur? And what was the point of it all?
Finally, our Proverbs passage talks about the drunkard and how, even after a hangover, he runs to look for his next drink. The world wants us to believe he can’t help it, that it’s a disease called alcoholism, but what does the Bible say?
The latest statistics I could find say the rate of divorce in the US is about 40-50%, but I’ve discovered that statistics are hard to pin down. Some say the rate of divorce has dropped in the last decade and that as high as 70% of marriages make it to their 15th year. If that’s true, what about the 30 or 40% who don’t? And is it possible that the divorce rate is going down because many couples simply live together without marrying?
What does the Bible say about divorce? Is it allowable to divorce because we’re not happy or no longer in love? Is it okay to divorce if we realize we are unequally yoked? Are there biblical grounds for divorce? And one final question, why is it so important for singles to understand these principles, too?
Have you ever wished someone could tell you how to change your husband (or wife)? If you’re like me, you have tried and failed and tried again. Sometimes, our husbands do need changing and God wants us to be part of that process. But our Proverbs reading reminds us that we won’t help them change by doing it in ungodly ways. In fact, the best way to help our husbands change may seem counterintuitive.
What’s wrong with living together? Many people today argue that a marriage license is “just a piece of paper.” Others claim that marriage was an institution designed by society or governments and is no longer necessary or useful.
And in fact, our government seems to be perfectly accepting of cohabitation as an alternative. Many businesses consider domestic partners, as they are sometimes referred to, eligible for benefits. Society, as a whole, no longer gives it much thought. So, is marriage an outdated concept? Is living together the practical, logical, even necessary, thing to do in many circumstances?
Also, why do we need to be willing to speak the truth about the LGBTQ+ array of issues? Why must we refuse to be silent?
Remember. Repent. Repeat. If “red-hot love” has turned to “not tonight, honey” and passion has given way to bills, soccer games, and to-do lists … if you seem to have lost that loving feeling … what do those simple instructions have to do with regaining the feelings of love and romance you once had?
And on what are the greatest feelings in the world dependent? How can we have them no matter what our circumstances and whether or not other people act right or not?
The Bible says a lot about wives submitting to their own husbands. But what if you’re married to an unreasonable husband or one who is harsh, unsaved, or even sinning? How should a wife respond to an unreasonable spouse? Surely, God doesn’t expect wives to be submissive then! And what about husbands? How are they to treat their wives, even those who are unsubmissive or difficult?
It’s time for our next marriage retreat. We’re so excited about seeing marriages like yours grow and get stronger.
Wherever you are in your marriage, you can take it to the next level with a Bible-based marriage retreat. Couples will get away and work on some of the most common marriage issues like communication, conflict resolution, growth in intimacy, and help understanding why you or your spouse responds as you do at times.
You’ll also enjoy beautiful accommodations and time spent with each other.
Marriage can be one of the greatest human relationships there is. It can offer companionship, friendship, intimacy, and someone to rely on through the ups and downs of life. But sometimes marriage isn’t what you expected. Often marriage will test you in ways you weren’t prepared for.
Communication … it’s a big thing in all human relationships but it’s vitally important in our marriages. There are so many things that we need to communicate about … finances, children, work, schedules, even intimacy … and when we don’t do it well or hardly at all, it can lead to misunderstandings, hard feelings, and outright war.
