TREASURES OF THE BIBLE, Week September 12-18, 2022, “Choose well who you will marry”, Prepared Speech.

TREASURES OF THE BIBLE, September 12-18, 2022, “Choose Wisely Who You Will Marry,” Prepared Speech.

“Choose well who you will marry” (10 min.)

It is very common that we hear the expression "I hope that Jehovah will put the right person in front of me so that I can be my partner, my spouse and serve him indefinitely". But thinking about the point a bit, does Jehovah put people before us or is it that we choose them?

That's what we're going to talk about in this section of Treasures of the Bible. Look at the title of this speech. "Choose well who she will marry." It seems that Jehovah does not have to see that he puts us to the person, but that it is our decision. Why? And it is that it is known that human beings, each one of us, tends to make decisions at times, because of what we see, what we hear, because of what they are constantly telling us.

And that creates in our brain an inclination towards something, although we do not know very well all the reasons. Let's see with the example of King Solomon, if perhaps Jehovah put these people to be his companions. Solomon was the wisest man who lived before Jesus. However, when choosing his partner, he chose poorly.

LET'S READ: 1 Kings 11:1,2.

1 But King Solomon loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh's daughter: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women. 2 They were among the nations of whom Jehovah had told the Israelites: “Do not go mixing with them, and they must not come mixing with you, for they will turn your hearts away to follow your gods.” But Solomon clung to them and loved them.

Here we are looking at the wisest man before Jesus. That he chose many foreigners that he says "I love them." Would you say that Jehovah put them before him to choose them as wives? Of course not! Jehovah had been very clear. They were not to mingle with people who were not Israelites. Neither they should come to mingle, nor should they mix with them.

The danger was that they had an inclination from a very young age to worship false gods. By associating with Solomon, they were going to try to change their minds. Solomon could not do anything. If he loved them deeply, he wanted to please them. So at some point he was going to give in to having these women. So he ruined his friendship with Jehovah. Would you say that these women were placed by Jehovah for Solomon to marry? Of course not! he chose wrong.

Today a Christian might have the wrong idea that there is already a person who is studying the Bible, who has some principles about Jehovah, but is not a witness. And some say but he is studying the Bible. Yes, but is that what Jehovah is saying he should do as a Christian?

LET'S READ: 1 Kings 11:3,6.

3 He had 700 wives, who were princesses, and 300 concubines. And, little by little, his wives turned his heart away. 4 When Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away to follow other gods, and he did not serve Jehovah his God with a complete heart like his father David's. 5 And Solomon followed Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians, and Milcom, the loathsome god of the Ammonites. 6 Solomon did what was wrong in the sight of Jehovah, and did not follow Jehovah fully as his father David did.

The number of wives was enormous, a thousand women. It was logical that they were going to divert him from thinking, from serving Jehovah. It is clearly being indicated that he did not have a complete heart like his father David's. And remember that Solomon was not just any person. He was the wisest man in existence at the time. But his wisdom was one side. Would you say that Jehovah appointed those thousand women for him to choose as his wives? Of course not, he chose wrong.

Today we also want to be careful. The fact that someone is studying the Bible, that he says that he likes the Bible, that he likes certain ideas of the Witnesses, that is no guarantee that he is going to serve Jehovah. The text is clear from 1 Corinthians 7:39 “marry only in the lord”. What could happen if we do not obey this command? The same thing that happened to Solomon.

LET'S READ: 1 Kings 11:9,10.

9 Jehovah was furious with Solomon because his heart had turned away from Jehovah, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice 10 and had warned him not to follow other gods. But he did not obey what Jehovah had commanded. 

The Bible says that it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of Jehovah. And here he's talking about Jehovah getting mad at Solomon, so he was in serious trouble. These women turned him away from Jehovah even when he was old. That is the reason why one should be very careful who we choose to marry. Don't let someone else decide for you. Jehovah is not going to put the person you like in his physical presence. in his way of speaking, etc. You have to choose according to what Jehovah has said.

An article that came out many years ago. A question from July 1, 2004 Watchtower readers on page 30 asked, Would it be wise for the dedicated Christian to date and marry someone who has been accepted as an unbaptized publisher, Since, strictly speaking, Paul's exhortation in Second Corinthians says that it does not apply in this case?

Clearly the slave said no, because the mandate is "only in the Lord." She is one who is studying the Bible, but she is not in the Lord. What does this expression involve? He mentions the article that it must be a person who has proven by his years of loyal service to Jehovah, that he keeps serving Jehovah continuously.

So take the time for yourself to choose the right person who meets the biblical qualifications to be your lifelong companion. Choose well. The decision is yours because you will have that person forever by your side, which is your decision. Also show Christian maturity and may Jehovah bless his decision in choosing following his command.