Preparation for Marriage

"Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies..."

By Tamara Eaton

Marriage is for mature adults --mature not only physically, but psychologically, emotionally, and spiritually.

* One who is prepared for marriage has an adult perspective on life, knows how to judge priorities and determine God's will --not just live for fun and pleasure or selfish desires.

* He understands how to set and achieve both long-term and short-term goals and how to lead a disciplined life.

* He is willing to "die to flesh" and place his future spouse's needs (and future children's needs) before his own. No longer can selfishness reign! All decisions and actions affect two people now.

* He is willing to pay the cost to lead his family spiritually and he recognizes that he is going to answer to God as to how he leads his family. He has surrendered himself fully to the Lord and allowed Him full control.

* He is prepared to provide for his future wife's and future family's financial needs.

* He has learned to judge things in light of Eternity --he understands what is really important and what is not.

* He takes the time to study God's Word and pray --for himself and for others, for his future spouse, and for wisdom and understanding of the Lord's will for their lives.

* He realizes his spiritual maturity is revealed by the degree in which he cooperates with the Holy Spirit and chooses to live by His instructions and lines his life up with the Word of God.

* He prays that the Lord leads him to the perfect spouse for himself, one who has also dedicated her life to Jesus Christ and is submitted to His Lordship and desires to walk in accordance to His Word -- otherwise, how can two walk together except they be agreed?

* He is totally committed to one spouse for life, divorce will never be an option or even in his vocabulary. He realizes love is a decision, not just a feeling and that while feelings may increase and decrease in intensity according to current circumstances, true love endures because it is based on more than just a feeling --it is a lifetime commitment.

出處: http://chfweb.net/articles/week52.htm