Drippings from the Honeycomb
More to be desired are [the rules of the Lord] than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. (Psalm 19:10)
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Jacob’s pursuit for a wife in Gen 28–29 is instructive for those Christian singles lawfully seeking a spouse to be married to. You can rid most worldly advice such as ‘finding the one,’ etc.
In providence look for:
Jacob was not to marry the cursed Canaanites but was instructed to marry within his close biological family (who were also pagans but perhaps not as bad). From a budding principle in these early chapters of Genesis come later commands such as Dt 7:3 and 1 Cor 7, which succinctly instructs us to ‘marry in the Lord.’ Resolve before the test of circumstances to marry in the Lord. Automatically dismiss any potential non-Christian candidate. Christian marriage is hard enough. Marrying an unbeliever will only add continual strain upon your marriage (and you’ll break God’s law). Further, there are also two types of marriages (the latter a reaction against the former): marriages of the head and of the heart. Rachel encourages us to seek both.
Prospective spouses ought not only pass the heart test but the head. Some pragmatic questions will help us partner with the best possible spouse:
L’amour! It is not wrong to be physically and relationally attracted to your prospective spouse, what we often call ‘falling in love.’ Internal and external beauty is an enjoyable part of life. It draws us and holds us fast to one another. We should find our spouse attractive and love spending time with them. However, love is not an emotion but an action, a choice (which is why you can grow to love). Just as it would be cold to only marry because of the head it is foolish to only marry because of the heart (i.e. is it love or lust?). Remember, there is no perfect spouse and you are not perfect, but if you follow these three principles and depend upon God’s grace in marriage you will not go wrong and learn to live a happy and content life. …on a Sunday. (I seldom eat out otherwise because food is so expensive!)
I don’t eat out on the Lord’s Day, and haven’t since I came of age in high school, because it is God’s special day of rest built into the fabric of the universe at Creation. This includes not causing others to work. Ex 20:10b tells us, “On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates.” This includes restaurants, pizza, Tim Horton’s drive through, [online] grocery shopping, etc. And even if someone is not a Sabbatarian in a classic Christian sense, even if you only believe the Lord’s Day is a New Covenant ordinance for worship, does not the principle of Ex 20:10b compel you? I mean, isn’t it hypocritical for you to have the day off and to go to church but by purchasing one small thing or eating out, rob the employee of that same blessing? (Here I find it ironic that in England it is the socialist parties that still favour Sunday trading laws because they protects workers!). Things never used to be open on Sunday and shouldn’t be open today. Alas, we live in a post-Christian world, and like most ethical area’s, we don’t have the godly law of the land to guide us. Everything is a test. Everything is an opportunity to trust the Lord’s ways and be a witness in the darkness, including keeping one day in seven as special. Instead of eating out, plan ahead, make freeing others to worship part of your worship, invite brothers and sisters or an unbeliever or a new couple at church over for a meal—show Christian hospitality. Enjoy the freedom that the gift of rest brings. A devotional given at Grey Gables based upon Joel 2:25 on July 3, 2024.
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