READ:
GENESIS 24:10-20, 47-61
“And I said to my
master, Peradventure the woman will not follow me.” (Genesis 24:39). As you continue to
progress towards marriage, one of the most important steps is to get the
consent of the parents on both sides of the family, even if it takes a long
time. This should only happen after God has confirmed your choice, and after
your pastor has found it to be of God.
Today, many people have sacrificed a number of crucial steps leading up to marriage in the name of education. Some Christians do not think it is necessary to obtain the support or approval of the families. And where they meet with resistance, they head straight for the registry, without the families’ support. This defies Scripture, and boils down to stealing. It is written, “You shall not steal” (Exodus 20:15). Marrying without the approval of your spouse’s parents or family amounts to stealing. Usually the couple will come under some curses that will make that union a perpetual nightmare.
A Yoruba (tribe in Nigeria) man and Itsekiri (tribe in Nigeria) woman waited for seven years before they agreed that they had heard correctly from God about their union. The parents of the bride vehemently opposed giving their daughter to a Yoruba boy. The couple resolved to wait, even though the bride’s parents said the wedding would only be conducted over their dead bodies. To this their daughter replied that she would not require their consent after they were dead. The waiting began. They came to me and I assured them that they were doing things according to Scripture. I also asked them to use prayer to combat any ethnic differences or other opposition that stood in their way. Because they were convinced that they were in God’s will, they persisted.
Be sure to obtain the consent of both the bride and the groom’s parents before heading for marriage, for with it comes their blessing. After ‘stealing’ a wife, some brothers believe that no curse pronounced by an unbelieving parent will stand. But they are wrong. Since they have broken Scripture, they cannot be protected by it. Have you fallen into this trap? Repent immediately and make restitution to your parents and/or parents-in-law.
Today, many people have sacrificed a number of crucial steps leading up to marriage in the name of education. Some Christians do not think it is necessary to obtain the support or approval of the families. And where they meet with resistance, they head straight for the registry, without the families’ support. This defies Scripture, and boils down to stealing. It is written, “You shall not steal” (Exodus 20:15). Marrying without the approval of your spouse’s parents or family amounts to stealing. Usually the couple will come under some curses that will make that union a perpetual nightmare.
A Yoruba (tribe in Nigeria) man and Itsekiri (tribe in Nigeria) woman waited for seven years before they agreed that they had heard correctly from God about their union. The parents of the bride vehemently opposed giving their daughter to a Yoruba boy. The couple resolved to wait, even though the bride’s parents said the wedding would only be conducted over their dead bodies. To this their daughter replied that she would not require their consent after they were dead. The waiting began. They came to me and I assured them that they were doing things according to Scripture. I also asked them to use prayer to combat any ethnic differences or other opposition that stood in their way. Because they were convinced that they were in God’s will, they persisted.
Be sure to obtain the consent of both the bride and the groom’s parents before heading for marriage, for with it comes their blessing. After ‘stealing’ a wife, some brothers believe that no curse pronounced by an unbelieving parent will stand. But they are wrong. Since they have broken Scripture, they cannot be protected by it. Have you fallen into this trap? Repent immediately and make restitution to your parents and/or parents-in-law.
MEMORIZE:
ACTS 24:16 –And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void
of offense toward God, and toward men.
