Marriage on the Rock

Marriage on the Rock

 

For centuries Brides and Grooms have

made vows like this on their wedding day…

“…to have and to hold, from this day forward,

for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer,

in sickness and in health, until death do us part.”

These vows are meant to be a reminder that in life

there are sunny days and days of violent storms.

It was the first week of November of 2015, and the weather

in northern Ohio could not have been more perfect…

Sunny and in the 70’s!

 I said to Sandy this is the perfect weather.

I even thought about Googling to find a place

where this was the weather every day.

Buy storms happen…

 “They happen to the just and the unjust”

I am in my 60s and have seen a lot of storms,

 both in my life and the lives of others.

Storms happen and happen in every season.

It is a simple metaphor Jesus gives us

 but one that should be given much thought.

It is a metaphor about a house.

A house that can withstand the storms.

The basic elements are what the house is

 built on and what the house is made of.

When Sandy and I built our house, it took six

months from breaking ground to moving in.

But before we could break ground, we

had to have a vision and put it on paper.

The house that withstands the storms, the house that

brings comfort in all seasons, takes a vision and planning.

Jesus’ metaphor is all about vision and planning.

The first thing you have to determine

is that you will be “wise”.

A wise person will always use the best quality

when is comes to things that need to last.

A wise builder just doesn’t start building…

They research.

The house that withstands the storms is the house

where the builder has spent time in God’s Word and

 the builder has put the things in God’s Word into practice.

The married couple should not

look for a cookie cutter house.

Going to church and calling yourself a

Christian is not enough to build a secure house.

A wise couple is not going to turn to God’s

Word only when storms come they will have

been in God’s Word and will be prepared.

 A wedding happens in a day.

A marriage that withstands the storms

of life is built over a lifetime.

The skills you learn from God’s Word are to

equip you and prepare you not bail you out.

So spend your days together studying the

foundation and the material for your house.

Make it a Godly House and live in security.

Scripture Reading

Matthew 7:24-27 NIV

24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."