Better to marry than to burn

America has a virus. A virus of irresponsible people who pay no heed to morality, let alone righteousness! Men don't want to marry anymore and women let themselves be used.  The numbers back this up.

The Center for Disease Control reports that in 2008 40.6% of births are to women out of wedlock. For blacks that number goes to 72.3%.  The numbers have increased by 28% since 2008 and it is projected that by 2016 more births will be out of wedlock than among married couples.

Michael Foust writes in Fireproof  "Between 50 and 60 percent of all marriages begin with the two partners cohabitating, and many of those couples no doubt believe they are making a wise move up front. But living together before marriage actually increases the chances of divorce in a first marriage -- 67 percent of cohabitating couples who marry eventually divorce, compared to 45 percent of all first marriages."

Focus on the Family reports that 80% of couples have premarital sex! Considering that 85% of people purport to be Christians, that doesn't say much for righteousness!

Do you see the virus? It's not one that can be treated by antibiotics nor by any other medicine. It's a virus that we're born with, cannot be cured, but can be treated. Here's the prognosis for the virus. It can be contained or incubated; your choice:

1 Corinthians 7:8 (KJV) "I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, it is good for them if they abide even as I. 9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.10 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:"

 

It is admirable if we choose NOT to marry. However, along with that choice goes fidelity. The unmarried person is to remain not only pure in action, but pure in spirit! We are told Galatians 5:16 ESV "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh." and "it is better to marry than to burn." In this context "burn" has two meanings, one metaphorical.

 

The English Standard Version actually says "burn with passion". Obviously, when one emotes that feeling that person has "lust".  God says much about lust! Here's just a sampling:

 

Matthew 5:28 ESV "But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 ESV "For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; "

 

Colossians 3:5 ESV "Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. "

 

Sexual immorality doesn't happen unless preceded by lust. Most people feel that burning lust for the object of our affection. That lust must be quenched by marriage. That doesn't put the fire out, but it makes it legitimate, even honorable, for God wants us to procreate. Sex outside marriage is sinful; within marriage, righteous!

 

The metaphorical "burn" is our punishment for disobedience.

 

1 Corinthians 6:18 ESV "Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body."

 

Yes, burning with passion is sinful. Acting on the urge is consummation of the mental sin. Yes, lust itself is sinful as you can see from Matthew 25:8 "already committed adultery with her in his heart." What is the penalty for sin? Death (damnation)! Will a person be eternally punished for one sin? Obviously, not. One can even repent and their slate be cleaned. However, when a person is living a lifestyle of unrepentant sin; beware! Those who fail to submit to Christ and live a continued life of sin will "burn"; burn in that lake of fire.

 

Submit! (Submit to God.) Such a short word, but so difficult to do. Why? We have the devil there all the time saying "Go ahead and do it! God won't send you to hell." It's the same old lie as in the Garden of Eden. Satan misrepresents what God says so we mortals can rationalize our sinful actions. You say "Sex isn't all that bad. It's just a mechanical act."  Is that really true? People can be hurt and emotionally scarred by having sex with the one they "love" (eros) or even the casual encounter! Unrequited love because of sex causes pain and emotional scarring which never heals!

 

Divorce is not God's will either. With unjustifiable separation, one party sins and if they remarry, the other part does as well. (This is another subject, but just as much a part of the virus).

 

I will mention that fornication is unmarried sex. Fornication is baaaaaaaad!

 

1 Corinthians 6:9 KJV "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,"

 

As you can see, fornication isn't really much to brag about although many do! It's damning! A Christian, in being righteous, must abstain because the body of the Christian is God's dwelling. By fornicating, a person is sinning against their own body and disrespecting God's temple. 1 Cor 6:18 says "the sexually immoral person sins against his own body".

 

Marriage is so sacred that Jesus compares his own relationship to us as a marriage. We are the bride and he's the bridegroom. As we are to be faithful and true to Christ, so must we be with our chosen love. Not only is adultery a slap at Christ, but "knowing" one another outside marriage diminishes the institution of marriage which is ordained by God! Fornication is a serious offense!

 

Men need to be responsible. They can't seem to be able to make that commitment. Such men are users and women who allow them to get away with it are being used. In a love relationship people don't "use" one another! They are to love, honor and cherish. That means marriage! If marriage is not eminent, it may not be a serious issue. If a man loves a woman he will crave marriage! If he wants sex  then he will be thrilled with sex without obligation!  Women, be not deceived. Use you heads! Have some self-respect. Have some respect for God!

 

Unfortunately, some women are users much like the men. The same applies to them. However, statistics show that men are the irresponsible and women are their enablers.

 

Isaiah 17:7 "At that day shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel." Now is the day! Get respect and show respect to God!