Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Put Your Family on the Altar

Time is Short.  Don't Set Your Hopes on Marriage.

"But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away

But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction."   I Corinthians 7:29-35

This message from Pastor Tim Conway is simply awesome!!!  I pray that you take a minute to watch this video and take the words to heart.

"Those of us with families, those of us with wives, husbands, children...We should live as if we have NONE, because it is all passing away."

Now is not the time to get caught up in what your spouse is doing, what your children are doing, what your family and friends are doing.  Now is the day of salvation and the time to seek the Lord with your whole hearts.

Instead of spending these days trying to fulfill your own desires, seek what God desires.  Place your time, your attention, your efforts on that which is of the Lord. Please do not waste time on things which have no eternal value.  I am not saying not to marry or not to care for your families...neither do I believe that this is what Pastor Conway is saying.  I am speaking of not placing your hopes, your joy, and your fulfillment in things that are temporal.

God has a calling for you and a work for you to do.  Redeem the time now to find out and do what God has for you. Time is short.

5 comments:

  1. Amen. Amen. Amen.

    I've actually given up the desire to have a wife for many reasons. I agree with the word, and I can see the sign of the times. It's actually quite liberating to stop thinking about marriage.

    I figured some time ago: What's more important? A wife? Or my soul with Jesus? I chose Jesus. In the process, I eliminated two fears: loving my wife more that Jesus, and spending all my time searching for and then finding her; and then losing my soul because I got caught up in the cares of this world - trying to maintain a marriage and children.

    Side note: And who would want to bring children into this hell hole?

    Anyway, I'm glad I gave up marriage. I'm content with it. Some say, "Well you gotta get married because you gotta have sex". I say, "No. YOU gotta have sex - you have a lust problem." I don't struggle with lust therefore I don't "need" sex like the rest of the lust filled population. I thank God for changing my mind and making my life simpler. I'm not against marriage, but for me, it's out. And I'm cool with it.

    I know this comment is kind of a rant, but it's good to hear someone talk about this in the opposite direction rather than what we mostly find - someone talking about how to find their godly mate etc.

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  2. Neal, I can so understand your comments! I have no knowledge whether God would have someone to marry or have children, but the Scriptures are clear that we can esteem these things more highly than we should.

    When He says that we cannot come to Him unless we hate mother, father, wife, children, etc... When He says that we must be like we are not married... Clearly He sees that these can become idols in our lives. I know it was an idol for me.

    When our hearts put God first, then everything else in our lives will be proper and in order. We will have what He has for us, but neither will we hold Him hostage to our desires. As A.W. Tozer has said,

    "It is part of my belief, and I think it is from the Scriptures, that God wants to get us to a place where if we only had Him we would still be happy. We don't need God and something else. It's God plus something else that's the trouble with us. But when we get God and satisfied so as we can have God and nothing else, then God gives us Himself and let's us have other things too."

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  3. This article really struck a nerve with me. It cut right through all of the lies that I try to tell myself such as, "I don't put marriage up on the altar" and made me get really honest with myself. And I hate to admit that I cherish the thought and idea of marriage a lot. Probably more than I should as a single woman of God.

    I am still struggling with finding peace and contentment with being single, because I hate feeling alone. My friends are moving on and focusing on their families and I find myself left isolated and alone. So, I pray that I don't have to suffer at the expense of other people's 'idols'. Please offer up a prayer for me to find peace about this matter.

    Also, I read something a while ago by David Pawson and he was explaining that when Abraham was told by God to offer his son, Isaac up on the altar -- at the time, Isaac was not a little boy, but actually a 30 years old man (just like Jesus was around that age when He sacrificed his life). So, it wasn't only Abraham that had to let go, but Isaac also had to be obedient and submit to his father and ultimately do the will of His Father in Heaven. Maybe that is what God wants me (and others) to do -- to concentrate and focus my whole being and efforts on putting the Kingdom of Heaven first and then all these other "things" will be added to me.

    God Bless,
    Emily

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  4. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  5. I removed the above comment to edit a word I left out. Anyway, about this clip:oh my gosh. I stumbled on this from another church's link.This was POWERFUL! Probably won't be very popular in most circles. This viewpoint is Biblical yet this view on relationships and marriage is RARELY heard.Why is that?

    Neal-so we meet on a blog again. Very good comments. Very refreshing perspective. Blessings on your decision.

    Latterday-you mentioned "clearly these things can be idols in our lives." I believe they have become idols for most of the church. People get MORE excited about relationships, marriage proposals, "oh-happy-me" announcements, etc, and less enthused about mission trip opportunities, service, being obsessed with Jesus. And people acknowledge that He should be first, but the main topic of their conversations (out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks...)and the interests they pursue shows otherwise. LatterDay, you mentioned this has been an idol. Thanks for your transparency.I have had many in my life, too. Repentance and cleansing is continually needed. I'm humbled:) LatterDay, you also mentioned "we hold God hostage to our desires." WOOOOW. Good good good. I can't tell you how refreshing this clip is! Oh I'll be meditating on this for awhile....

    Joycelyn

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