Matthew 7:24-27 (NKJV) “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house and it fell. And great was its fall.”
Over and over, we have seen that houses with strong foundations are the ones that are left standing after natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis strike. Therefore, it is essential not to rush into building something without taking time to lay a proper foundation. The same principle applies to marriage because the foundation will determine how one will respond when challenges come.
Jesus’ teaching on this is plain and simple. He compared someone who had a foundation to someone who didn’t. The flood came to both houses. Everyone will face challenges in life. It is not “if” but “when” they come, so we must know how to deal with them.
The deciding factor in whether a house remains standing is its foundation. The ruin was great for the house without foundation, but the house with the proper foundation was unshakeable despite the stream beating vehemently against it—it withstood the test of the flood. Likewise, our marriages should be built on a solid foundation to withstand the devil’s onslaught.
Some biblical values and principles regarding marriage that will help us to build the foundation on the rock are:
- Be a “doer” of the Word
- Build a foundation of our beliefs in Christ
- See marriage as a covenant
- Leave and cleave to our spouse
- Be one flesh (spiritually, emotionally, and physically)
- God is in the centre of the marriage (three-strand cord)
- Be willing to forgive and accept imperfection
- Trust each other
- Mutual submission
- Husband must take spiritual leadership
If every family and individual should represent a house, we need to build strong foundations in the individual and the marriage. The couple must agree that marriage is a covenant and not a contract and build on the marriage covenant by working on the marriage. Even though they will encounter differences, disagreements, dissatisfaction, and challenges, what will keep it strong is their commitment to make it work because they have uttered the marriage vow in the presence of God. There is nothing that cannot be resolved if they see each other as one flesh and covenant partners.
Sermon Series：Before You Say I Do (Lesson 1 & 2)
首先，要有坚实的基础
马太福音7:24-27 “凡听见我这些话而去行的，我把他比作一个聪明人，把房子盖在磐石上。雨淋，水冲，风吹，撞着那房子，房子总并不倒塌，因为它根基立在磐石上。凡听见我这话不去行的，就像一个无知人，把房子盖在沙土上。雨淋，水冲，风吹，撞着那房子，房子倒塌。且倒塌的是很大。”
我们一次又一次地看到，在经历自然灾害如地震和海啸之后，有坚固地基的房子仍然屹立不倒。因此关键是在尚未花时间修整出一个坚实的地基前，先别急着在上面施工。同样的原则适用于婚姻，因为根基决定了一个人在危机来临时会如何回应。
耶稣的教导简单明了。祂把有根基的房子与没有根基的房子作对比，两栋房子，都遭遇了洪水的冲击。每一个人都会面对生活的挑战。挑战不是“会不会”来，而是“何时”到来，所以我们必须知道如何应对。
房子是否能屹立不倒取决于它的根基。没有根基的房子倒塌得很大。 然而，有坚固地基的房子是不可动摇的。，尽管有猛烈的水流拍击着它–它经受住了洪水的考验。同样，我们的婚姻也应该建立在这样坚固的基础上，好抵挡魔鬼的攻击。
这些圣经的价值观和原则可以帮助我们把婚姻的基础建造在磐石上；
- 行出圣经话语
- 在基督里建立我们信仰的根基
- 视婚姻为盟约
- 离开（父母）并忠于配偶
- 成为一体（灵魂体）
- 上帝是婚姻的中心（三股拧成的绳子）
- 愿意饶恕并接纳不完美
- 彼此信任
- 彼此顺服
- 丈夫必须担负起属灵领袖的职责
假如每个家庭和个人代表一栋房子，我们需要将个人和婚姻建立在稳固的地基上。夫妇双方必须同意婚姻是个盟约而非一纸合约，他们在婚姻盟约之上经营婚姻。即使他们在婚姻中会遇到差异、意见不合、不满和挑战，那使他们的婚姻坚固的是他们经营婚姻的执着，因为他们在神面前许下了婚姻的誓言。如果他们视彼此为一体是盟约伙伴，就没有什么是不能解决的。
讲章系列：走向红毯之前（第一和第二课）
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