Job Ch? and 1 Chor 4-8

Paul is teaching in the passages in 1 Corinthians about marriage. Paul believe's marriage should only be entered into if one "cannot contain". Rather than burn with lust, and ultimately in Hell if we give into our lusts, we should marry. If we do marry, we're to treat our spouses with all the love, respect, kindness, forgiveness, mercy and grace that Jesus shows His Bride.

In stark contrast with the passages in Job where Elihu, one of Job's comforters, is spewing his interpretation of righteuousness to those who would listen. Job's "comforter" ties Job's outward calamities to Job's inward righteousness. Making the claim that Job must have some hidden sin in his heart or these terrible things would not have happened to him.

I feel the lesson for me here is this; It's important as Christians to allow God to move as He wills. While we should never water down the Word of God, it's not our place to use God's Word to make others feel dispair or condemned. Nor to use His Word to motivate other's to do our will. God's Word can stand on it's own. We're not to discourage and trample those who've fallen, be it their fault or not. I believe it's our responsibility to lift up. Encourage, love, and set the weary, the fallen, the downtrodden on the path of righteousness by pointing them to the cross.

In regards to our marriage, this is doubly important seeing as a marriage is the joining of two into one flesh. We would never tear at our own flesh. We nurture and protect it.

In the same way, we should nurture and protect each other in the Spirit. By pointing each other toward the cross and making our destination the same, we'll become closer as we learn to rely on eachother through the difficult times.

Andy