I felt I needed to ask him a rather personal question. Most
of the times, I would reserve such content to my friends. Yet I could not at
this point resist the temptation to ask him his counsel as one who I deem wise
and a father figure.
We had actually been discussing about the rate of divorce
and he explained to me the burden God had put in his heart and ministry to the
family. It was evident that the strategy of the enemy destroying the church had
shifted to the family unit which undoubtedly is the pillar of the church. I
could not help when he further explained that divorce was something God hates
and does not approve. And as such, warned me to be careful even as many
contemporary churches took a lukewarm position concerning this subject.
Therefore I asked him, “As a young man, what kind of prayers
I ought to have towards my wife to be?” I surely did not expect what he told me
next.
He started off with the story of Mary.
“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would
fulfill his promises to her!” Luke 1:45
He asked me, “What did Mary do to deserve
to be the mother of our LORD Jesus Christ? Did she pray for it? ”
The obvious answer I had was no.
He got back to Genesis where marriage began
in the Garden of Eden. It was God’s idea from the origin of creation. God
intended that man should not be alone. God looked for Adam a suitable helper.
As I reflected on this, he pointed out that
the problem with our generation was that we were looking for beauty, appearance,
style, class and sheer feelings whereas God was looking for a suitable
companion! Suitable companion does not necessarily mean beautiful!
To add flesh to our conversation, he took
me to the story of Isaac and Rebekah in Genesis 24.
Then the man bowed down and worshiped the Lord, saying, “Praise be to the Lord, the God of
my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my
master. As for me, the Lord has led me on the journey to
the house of my master’s relatives.” Genesis
24:26-27
The senior servant in the household of
Abraham who was charged with the duty of finding Isaac’s wife acknowledged that
it was God in his kindness, faithfulness and leading that he had met Rebekah.
He
who finds a wife finds a good thing, And obtains favor from
the Lord. Prov. 18:22
To find a good wife is actually a favor
from God. It is unmerited. It is not a reward of your prayers. Finally He told
me, “God knows what kind of person He shall give you. He is not unfaithful,
neither unjust. Continue living for Him and do not be afraid. The hope of the
righteous shall be gladness/joy according to Proverbs 10:28“
I also came to a conclusion that I do not
know the best for myself. My own intuition has certainly misled me. God in His sovereignty
knows the suitable companion and exactly knows how to lead me there. Before
then, I must be about my Father’s business.
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