WEDNESDAY January 17, 2018
Marriage and Ministry
…Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. - 1 Corinthians 7:1-2
Paul addressed other major issues in the Church of Corinth. He wrote to them and gave personal answers about marriage and singleness. First, by priority he addressed the single person. Paul shared how God has created everyone with sexual desires; and Christians are able, according to God’s will, to be married to each other. It was natural for a man to desire a women or a woman to desire a man. However, it might be that a person has the gift of singleness.
Paul shared from his heart his personal advice that it was better to remain single in ministry. He encouraged those who had a call to ministry, not to get married because it could become a hindrance to their call. A married person might not be able to entirely concentrate on what God had called them to do (1 Corinthians 6-7).
However, it is important to understand that a couple really needs to know that God has placed them together as husband and wife in ministry. If you marry a partner who is going in a different direction, then you are going to have a hard time in ministry. A husband and wife must be one in the ministry or there will be major problems––it is just the way it is.
Billy Graham made this lasting and loving statement concerning his wife:
Ruth [Graham] was my life partner, and we were called by God as a team. No one else could have borne the load that she carried. She was a vital and integral part of our ministry. And my work through the years would have been impossible without her support.
The Christian married couple can be a powerful weapon
in the hand of Jesus.
~John Benton~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit Somebodylovesyouradio.org!
