2024-07-31
Given by Dr Peter Masters from Proverbs 15
Proverbs 15.2,4
2 The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
I hope that most of you in future years while the Lord delays his coming will be happily married. Marriage is a wonderful wonderful institution. Jill and I have been married for 62 years, 3 months and forgive me I've forgotten how many days. We have others among us who have come along as staff who also have been married for many years, and also think it is a wonderful institution.
When people come to be married, I often ask to know the hymns in advance, because there are some hymns that do not work for wedding services. One such hymn is "Fight the good fight with all your might", which will not do for a wedding service, or "A mighty fortress is our God". Those who are cynical will recognise that.
Marriage is wonderful if conducted with full mutual love, respect, courtesy and kindness. We hear sometimes of those who believe in the patriarchy system of marriage, the husband being a boss. That is not the spirit of marriage in the Bible. Headship must be conducted with great respect, understanding, courtesy and affection.
I hope most of you will be married, and I do hope you will take great care in approach to marriage, and you will allow things to happen naturally. "Seek a wife" says the scripture, and so goes for the wife. But never let there be any forcing, any manoeuvring, any match-making. To some this is a sport, and it can be disastrous. Respect the opposite sex, befriend others. But this does require a climate of understanding, and I apply this text to this.
In the world, this is everyday conversation, who is going out with who, or it be good if so and so married so and so, tale bearing and talking about things. Often the response is for a young man or a young woman to draw back from being involved, from being a topic of conversation. So we need to be mature, discreet as a fellowship, not making people's spiritual sincere seeking of the Lord's will public property. So do remember that.
I was hearing from someone who had a painful and difficult experience in courtship with nothing wrong done. The couple found that did not have the right chemistry and it came to a halt. They were then confronted by a hundred questions, what have you done? Why have you done this? That is very painful to some. I don't say this accusingly, but there is a tendency sometimes for us to bring the world with us into our Christian lives.
So pray for one another - "A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit."
My hope is that the Lord will lead you, married or single.