Today’s Devotion
Topic: To The Married And The Yet To Marry!
(Self Assessment 102)
Background: Most singles are not really as serious about marriage as they claim to be; they just want relationships that satisfy their fantasies. It has become a game, and some people have become good at playing it.
Instead of becoming students of life and inquiring from the word of God what principles there are that govern marriage, some “guys / dudes” have developed the best strategies to woo every lady of choice; they know exactly what to say or do to get them. In the same vein, some ladies overly pay particular attention to their looks and outward appearance, neglecting the inner.
We put these together and what have we? Young people who are so ill prepared for both marriage and life. Its in the way the act, think and behave. It also shows clearly in the qualities they look for in their potential spouses. No wonder all ill-prepared couples prove a great deal of immaturity after their vows at the altar and threaten divorce at the least chance till counsellors intervene.
Today’s study seeks to highlight some of the important values of marriage which many single and married people overlook, and the implications that come with it. Kindly read the passage below and share your thoughts with us.
Text: 1 Peter 3: 1- 7
1 Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the Word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, 2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.
4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 5 For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, 6 like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.
7 Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers. Amen.
Questions:
i. When a male and female get joined together by God in holy matrimony, the two become one flesh. In what ways can the good behaviour of a wife win her husband for Christ (read vrs 1 & 2)?
ii. Read vrs 3 and 4 again. Do you think beauty portrayed by outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles, fine clothes etc has attained a high level of advantage in getting a spouse for our ladies in this dispensation than the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit? If so:
a) What are some of the factors that have led to this?
b) How is this affecting our relationships and marriages today?
iii. What does it mean for a lady to have the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit?
iv. Vrs 5 explains that the holy women of old who put their hope in God focused on the inner beauty, meanwhile today’s modern lady thinks about being fashionable and up to date with modern trends. Do you think that developing inner beauty is a thing of the past now? Has it lost its place in this age of sophisticated fashion? Please explain.
v. Vrs 6 sets Sarah as an example of women who are concerned more with developing godly character and not lavishing on the outside. It also classifies women who do same as doing what is right and not giving in to fear. Does that suggest that:
a) Focusing on inner beauty is right, and more important for building a good image and personality in women for both life and marriage? If so, explain why this has more worth than just outward adornments?
b) Many who subject to fashion trends without a lot of consideration on what the Word of God says, do so out of FEAR? The fear of rejection, fear of not fitting in, fear of losing out in life’s ‘competition’ if they don’t join in like all others and even get ahead of the game? If so, do you think that following trends out of FEAR is the best thing to do? Please explain.
vi. We see in vrs 7 that husbands are being encouraged by Apostle Peter (himself a married man), to be considerate and treat their wives with respect so that nothing hinders their prayers. Why do you think godly men who claim to love God must be:
a) considerate and
b) treat their wives with respect?
vii. What do you think will be some of the consequences when we overlook these important values that hold marriage together, and instead model our relationships or even marriages after the “telenovelas” we watch on TV?
viii. What have you learnt from today’s Bible study?
Kindly take your time, meditate and share your thoughts with us through this same social media platform (Facebook & Whatsapp). We learn a great deal from you.
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