Intentional Christian Living

So a couple of days ago, I started this series; “Why marry a Godly person” to share what God taught me about the topic and one of my readers requested I finish it. So here goes… The second reason why we must not be equally yoked with unbelievers is a lot more abstract than the first; which was to build your house (marriage) on the rock.

I’ll attempt to explain the second reason from the scripture:

Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? James 4:5 NIV

When you became born again, God’s Spirit took up residence in your heart with a promise never to leave you or forsake you. This Spirit gives you the right to have a father-son/daughter relationship with God Himself!

And he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us. 2 Corinthians 1:22 NLT

So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15 NLT

God’s Holy Spirit in you is a guarantee that you will receive everything he has promised including eternal life (Read Ephesians 1:14). In other words, God does not take the deposition and disposition of his Spirit in us lightly. He jealously longs after his Spirit. Dare I say, He jealously guards and watches over his Spirit in you. Now what has this got to do with marriage?

Sex is a spiritual transaction that unites body, soul, and spirit. It is why two become one in marriage. Unfortunately, that equation works whether the union is between two married christians, or a one night stand, or a believer-unbeliever duo. The only force, strong enough to undo the transactions of sex, is the Word of God. Remember the Word of God divides soul and spirit, joints and marrow…. so if you have had multiple sexual partners, all is not lost… but I digress.

As I was saying, whenever there is a sexual union, there is an exchange that has the potential to contaminate your spirit; the new Spirit that God Himself has given you; the Spirit of Redemption, the Spirit that he jealously yearns for. And God does not like that. So now in the light of this, lets read the anchor scripture from which this discussion stems:

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. 2 Corinthians 6:14 – 7:1 NIV

When it comes to marriage, I consider myself a bit of a novice since I’ve only been married for a minute; so I generally tend to stay away from dishing out marriage advice. However, a few weeks ago, God taught me something I’d like to share.

So the question today is, “Why is it important to marry a Godly person?” The obvious answer is because the bible says we should not be equally yoked with unbelievers… and rightly so! But why? Two answers. The simpler answer: FOUNDATION

This brings to mind a parable: the parable of the wise and foolish builders. At the risk of oversimplification, it is said that the wise man built his house on rock and when the rain and wind beat upon the house it remained firmly planted. The foolish man, on the other hand, built his house on sand and that house could not withstand the forces of nature (Matthew 7:24-28).

Jesus is our firm and solid foundation; a foundation described as the rock on which we build our lives, our loves, our hopes, our dreams. A christian whose heart is sold out in obedience to the word of God brings a foundation that is solid rock to a marriage. The unbelieving partner brings sand.

But the wicked [ungodly, unbeliever] are like a surging sea that is unable to be quiet; its waves toss up mud and sand. Isaiah 57:20 NET

Here’s the simple mathematics:

Rock + Rock = a firm, sure, and solid foundation for a house (marriage) that will stand the test and trials of life.

Rock + Sand = a potentially unstable foundation for a house (marriage) with an uncertain future.

Let me tell you a parable of my own…

There was once a little piggy that built her house with sand and the big bad wolf came and huffed and puffed and blew her house down. But her sister was wiser. She built with rock so when the big bad wolf (satan) came, he huffed and puffed… and huffed and puffed.. and huffed and puffed… but could never blow the house (marriage) down. And I know this because…

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:11 NIV