INTRODUCTION

Like other callings upon a person’s life, God prepares men and women for marriage. Obviously, God prepares the heart, but He also prepares other areas in order to provide for a strong home. When God created Adam, He could have immediately created Eve, but He chose to allow Adam to experience the sense of being alone. Perhaps there are other reasons, but God may have thought it wise to prepare Adam for marriage. He needed to experience life without Eve. Adam needed to come to the place where he desired companionship. He needed to be alone before he could truly appreciate a wife. In addition to the preparation of Adam’s heart, the Lord gave him a job, a means by which he could provide for Eve (Genesis 2:8-9 [8] And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. [9] And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
See All..., 15). All of these preparations were necessary for a strong marriage relationship.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For children): Children who are lazy and do not consider the hard work done daily by their parents are often overwhelmed when they have a home and children of their own. Develop good work habits without complaining (Proverbs 6:6-11 [6] Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: [7] Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, [8] Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. [9] How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? [10] Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: [11] So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.
  See All...; Proverbs 31:27She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
  See All...b; Ecclesiastes 9:10Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
  See All...a; Hebrews 6:12That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
  See All...a; Philippians 2:14For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
  See All...).
• (For everyone): Read Titus 2:3-5 [3] The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; [4] That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, [5] To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
  See All.... What are some areas in which a young lady should be prepared prior to marriage? How can she learn the things she needs to learn in order to be prepared for becoming a spouse?
• Read Titus 2:6-8 [6] Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. [7] In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, [8] Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.
  See All... and 1 Timothy 5:8But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
  See All.... What are some areas in which a young man needs preparation before he is ready to be responsible for a wife and children?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Ask the Lord to give wisdom to those considering marriage.
• Ask God to prepare your children for a strong godly marriage.

HYMN

Have Thine Own Way, Lord!

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