There were many responses to yesterday’s post about couples waiting longer and longer to get married. Many did not believe in young marriages which is an interesting comment as it is the opposite to the Bible which speaks of getting married and having children in our youth! I find that often many people feel they know more than God.
But then again, I understand where they are coming from. There can be marriages that end in divorce and yet they married young. I don’t believe that marrying young was the root cause. I believe the root cause is that they weren’t ready for marriage. They did not understand that marriage is not just “falling in love” but it is a commitment to a mandate to raise godly children to impact the world. It takes commitment. It takes hard work. It takes resolve. It’s not just finding a “cool guy” but also being committed to marriage as God reveals it in His word. It is a picture of the relationship of Christ and His church.
I find that many young daughters who grow up in a large family and have learned how to manage home and care for babies are very ready for marriage. I have observed many of them marry young with lovely happy marriages.
I am not talking about getting married for the fun of it (although marriage is fun and exciting). I married at 21 years and my husband and I have now been married for 63 years, every year becoming more blissful and glorious. I remember when we married after an eight-month engagement, my husband I looked at one another and said, “What on earth were we waiting for? Why didn’t we get married sooner?”
As I was saying, we don’t just get married because we fall in love with this handsome man (although once again, I think I married the most handsome man on earth, and he still turns me on in our eighties!), but we sure need to know whom we are marrying.
I put together a document of 21 points to look for in finding the right many to marry. They are all necessary and powerful points, and I believe every young person should read these points before deciding on their husband (although that’s not the right word). Because I don’t think a young person should be the only one in the deciding issue. It is important for her to talk with her parents, give her guidance, and allow them to check this young man out. And ultimately it is God who decides as we pray and wait on Him. God loves to bring young couples together. It is how He created us, but we must let God do it.
Everything that is written in the Old Testament is a type for our understanding today. And we see in the very beginning that when God created Eve, he then “brought her to the man,” Oh, how I love those words. God brought her to the man! And this is still God’s heart. As a young daughter waits upon God to look for a godly man, He will bring the right man to her in His time.
Anyway, here is the link for the 21 points. It would be good for parents and young people to check them out.
Blessings from Nancy Campbell