Framing Our Marriages in the Fear of the Lord
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.” Psalms 111:10 (KJV)
Hello beautiful body of Christ and blog readers! I pray you are still on target with your God-centered goals for this New Year. On an occasion, I am led to write a word of exhortation to those of us who are married. Therefore, this week’s blog is directed to married couples. However, I believe that this information is not limited to just married couples because there are some sound samples of spiritual truth for our singles as well.
This week, I would like you to consider framing our marriages in the fear of the Lord. A framework is a skeletal structure designed to support or enclosesomething. What is the framework that the world implements to support and enclose their marriage? Self-serving conditions, threats, disharmony, deceit, manipulation, power struggles, and unlawful loyalties, just to name a few issues seen in secular marriages today.
Conversely: What supports and encloses your marriage? I respectfully submit to you that our marriages should be framed in the fear of the Lord. It’s the fear of the Lord will grant us the capacity to see God accurately whereas our feelings obscure our sight of God. When we are able to see God accurately, we will be able act right in our marital relationship.
Please ponder with me three points of being right in our marital relationship.
- Thinking right
- Talking right
- Taking the right course of action
Above all else, the right thing to do is prioritize our eternal relationship with our Creator; more than anyone or anything. Inevitably, when two people are right with Him they will be right with each other.
When people say we are having problems in our marriage they usually point to the following areas: communication, intimacy, respect, finances, parenting, boundaries, or trust. I submit to you that marriage problems are actually problems with God. Specifically, one or both people in the marital relationship have a poor relationship with God. This is based on what is typically a twisted or a faulty, fleshly, impaired, understanding of who He is. I believe that when we strengthen our grip on the fear of God, we will get a better grip in our marriage.
Just to be certain that we are of the same understanding, fear of the Lord is defined as:
- fear, terror
- awesome or terrifying thing (object causing fear)
- fear (of God), respect, reverence, piety
What do the Scriptures say?
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.” Psalms 111:10 (KJV, emphasis added)
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 1:7 (KJV, emphasis added)
“The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.” Proverbs 19:23 (KJV, emphasis added)
Practically speaking, how do we demonstrate the fear of the Lord in our marriage? In our talk, thoughts, trust, treatment, love, liberties, living and labors.
Are you aware that our God finds profound pleasure in those that purpose to fear him?
“The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.” Psalms 147:11 (KJV)
I close with five essential exercises of faithfulness in fearing the Lord and the blessings that are forwarded to those who fear Him.
- When we are faithful in fearing God, it brings Him pleasure.
- When we are faithful in fearing the Lord, our priorities will be in alignment with His will.
- When we are faithful in fearing the Lord, we will be faithful to do His will in our marriages.
- When we are faithful in fearing God, we will enjoy abundant life and love.
- When we are faithful in fearing God, it reveals the foundation of who we are.
For the Glory of God,
PBKSR