Pastor Bell's Words To Live By

Another major problem Nehemiah faced was that of inter-marriage with unbelievers. Now let me state from the offset that marrying people from other ethnic groups is not a problem, there is but one human race. The problem comes when the marriage occurs and there is no acceptance of Yahweh and one party continues to worship ‘other gods’. For Nehemiah the problem was so acute that it affected the community’s relationship with God. The person charged with taking the concerns of the people to God had allowed his grandson to marry the daughter of one of those people who vehemently opposed the building of the wall, Sanballat of Samaria. This was subsequent to the same priest Eliashib allowing another antagonist, Tobaih to rent a room in the temple and thus bring his idols right into the heart of where God’s presence was. The problem with inter-marrying was this, ‘which God took precedence at worship time’? We are faced with the same problems today. Boy meets girl, they fall in love get married and live happily ever after. However, if neither partner does their due diligence to determine who or what their perspective parents worship, we can have a recipe for disaster. This is why scripture tells us that we should not be unevenly yoked with unbelievers (1Cor 6:14). It does not matter how much you are in love, if you are not serving the same God the relationship will not last. Solomon and Samson tried it and it ended in tears for both of them. In fact Samson was blinded physically because of his love for a woman from the enemies of God.

So today, before you get hooked up, look up and ask for parental and divine guidance. Read Nehemiah 13:23-31.