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The Basis of Marriage

It’s ridiculous what’s happening to marriage today. For every person who says, “I do,” there’s another who says, “I’m through.” With marriage, every passing day finds the distance between the marriage altar and the divorce court growing shorter and shorter.

Why is this? It’s partly due to the fact that we have been sold a bill of goods. People who ought to know better have told us that love is the basis of marriage. Love, they define as a romantic feeling over which we have no control. So we have come to believe that when we no longer feel romantically toward our mate it is okay to get a divorce. People say things like this all the time: “I want a divorce because I don’t love him/her anymore.”

Commitment, not love, is the basis of marriage. When you married you promised, “Till death do us part.” You promised before God and witnesses. That promise—not some feeling—is the basis of marriage. On the basis of that promise you now must work, adjust, compromise, and bend so that you can live together in harmony. The basic problem with marriage then is not the lack of love, but the lack of integrity and maturity to live up to our promises.

If your marriage is in trouble don’t use the cop-out, “We don’t love each other anymore.” Stop being selfish and childish and proud. Talk over your problems with one another and a counselor. Ask God to help you and on the basis of your commitment build a good marriage. After all—you did promise.

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Paul W. Powell - www.PaulPowellLibrary.com

Today's Devotional

Major on the Basics

Knute Rockne was one of the greatest football coaches ever. In his 13 years at Notre Dame, his teams won 105 games, lost 12, and tied 5. He never had a secret practice. In fact, he sometimes put up a sign for visitors that said, “Secret practice. Come and bring your notebooks.”

On one occasion when an Army scout missed a train connection and didn’t get to the Notre Dame game he was to cover, Rockne obligingly sent him the plays he planned to use against the West Point men. He explained his actions by saying, “It isn’t the play that wins; it’s the execution.”

All great coaches agree: champions are made by majoring on the fundamentals – blocking and tackling. They execute well. Teams seldom win by trick plays or gimmicks.  

The same is true of life. Tricks and gimmicks will seldom get you to the top in any endeavor and can never keep you there. Major on the basics in all of life – work hard, honor God, be honest, kind and helpful to others, and go to church regularly.

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