God made us to know what modesty was. From the moment that people first sinned, they realized that they needed to be covered. Once Adam and Eve sinned, they didn’t need anyone to say they were naked; they knew it. God even asked who had told them they were naked. (Gen. 3:11) They had lost their innocence when they ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and people have been messing up God’s plan ever since. They wouldn’t have had to face the embarrassment of being naked – let alone punished otherwise for their sin – if they’d obeyed.
A. Drawing, hurting people
One of those punishments was that the woman’s desire would be toward her husband. (Gen. 3:16.) Notice that Adam and Eve had been married in Genesis 2. This prophecy referred to all women, and showed that their eye would be toward men if they werne’t careful, instead of being focused on God’s perfect love.
Ms. Mally notes that woman, especially, like to get attention from men, though men like attention from women as well. Women don’t always mean to, but sometimes they can let themselves be flattered, according to her. They can be drawn toward a guy because he looks or talks nice. But, they’d never dream of marrying him.
That hurts the other person, too, whether it’s the man or the woman drawing attention. It makes them think about them when there isn’t any connection otherwise.
Sadly, much fashion is like that, but even if you have to make it yourself, you can dress modestly. You don’t have to follow the world’s ways. There’s no reason to be showing all that some people do, just because they can.
B. Creating confusion
There are other reasons it’s a bad idea to go against God’s plan. A family unit is supposed to be just that; a unit. It creates too much confusion when there are so many relations by marriage. God can’t stand divorce because it hurts so many people. God wants His people to feel love and support. Yes, it’s necessary at certain times, but he created a plan that – if people followed it – would prevent it.
That plan is to wait for the right person. And, even if you didn’t, to get along and learn to love the Lord and worship Him together. The Shunammite woman didn’t get divorced just because her husband didn’t love God like she did. She let her life be a living testimony to God’s love by staying with her husband.
When there are so many different relations, it causes confusion and chaos. Instead of one happy, healthy home, kids have two, three, or more, sometimes with different rules, instead f one family where everyone tries to follow the Lord.
C. Changing feelings
People mess up when they try it all on their own, because feelings change. One minute you think a person is great, the next you don’t. God knows if it’s a good situation, though, and He will never change.
Yes, circumstances change – people get saved, become new creatures inside, and grow in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:17) But, that is not a human change. It is God making that person new on the inside. A person must want to change for God to do it. Things like money, however, should never be considered a change in circumstance. Either you love the person for richer or poorer, or you don’t. That’s something to be extra sure of before you even think of engagement, let alone marriage.
D. Battling the flesh
Notice that a person can change, but you should not marry an unbeliever – or a weak one – hoping he or she will change. Again, God does the changing. Your love and goodness as a friend may convert them. But, when Paul talks about that, he is talking about people who get saved after marruage. Then, they can stay in the marriage.
However, you should never marry someone in the hopes that you will win the person to Christ. You are much more likely to be fretting over children who follow your spouse, not you. The reason? It’s that battle between flesh and spirit.
Paul was s one of the most dedicated Christians there ever was. And yet, study his words in Romans 7:14-25. You will see one of the great truths of the Bible, that even the great Apostle Paul struggled with. We are all flesh, and that part that faces temptations is at war with the part that serves God. Thankfully, Paul concludes that with an assurance that there is “now therefore no condemnation” for saved people. (Romans 8:1) But, that is only talking about our assurance of salvation, once we trust Jesus Christ as our Savior. As long as we live, we have that fleshly nature that we must battle. Listening to the flesh, rather than the Spirit, can cause us lots of problems. Not just like David had with Bathsheba, but all kinds of things that can draw us away from God.
