SCRIPTURE
“Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away. If one were to give all the wealth of one’s house for love, it would be utterly scorned.” Song of Solomon 8:7
SPOTLIGHT
Song of Solomon which is sometimes called Song of Songs, is a collection of love poems which express what ideal human love and marriage are. Reading it will help you discover that there is a pure love that cannot be washed away by a torrent of tempting waters, and that no amount of money can buy. In the Message version, Song of Solomon 8:7 states, “Love is invincible facing danger and death. Passion laughs at the terrors of hell. The fire of love stops at nothing— it sweeps everything before it. Flood waters can’t drown love, torrents of rain can’t put it out. Love can’t be bought, love can’t be sold— it’s not to be found in the marketplace.”
How can you find true love? The United States Army chaplains developed the “No Jerks” program, which teaches people to study a potential marriage partner’s F.A.C.E.S., to determine compatibility before marriage. The five letters stand for F=Family background, A=Attitudes, C=Compatibility, E=Experience in previous relationships, S=Skills they bring to the union.
Studying a person’s F.A.C.E.S. makes a lot of sense, but you do not want to do this by yourself. You need God’s help. Psalm 23:1,2 states, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters.” You want a marriage to be characterized by green pastures and quiet waters. God wants to guide you but will not do it unless you ask Him. As Solomon wrote, your home will be wealthy when it is not filled with expensive things, but filled with love that cannot run out or be swept away.
God created this beautiful relationship called marriage. Genesis 2:18 states, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” He knows more about how marriage works then anyone.
God does not want you to be lonely. Marriage provides pleasure and partnership along with the great privilege of parenthood. He wants your marriage to be fulfilled in all three areas. President James A Garfield, the 20th president of the United States who was assassinated said, “The sanctity of marriage and the family relation make the cornerstone of our American society and civilization.” The health of our nation is determined by the family. The wealth of our nation is strong marriages and our children.
Remember this when choosing a marriage partner. When you leave the choice to God, God always makes the right choice. God makes a great promise in Psalm 128:1-4, “Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in His ways. You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your sons will be like olive shoots around your table. Thus is the man blessed who fears the Lord.”
If you are not married, you really want to avoid marrying a jerk. As Solomon wrote, you really need an invincible love in your marriage. Avoid marrying a jerk by allowing God to make the right choice for you. Ask God, your Heavenly Father, to help you study the F.A.C.E.S.
SOMETHING TO DO
If you are single and desirous of finding a mate, implement the steps above. If you know someone who is single and could benefit from this insight, send it to them. If you are parents who desire your children to find a Godly mate, begin to pray this way.
SOUL TIME PRAYER
Heavenly Father, give me a love for my soulmate so strong that I will be able to face any situation in my marriage. And make that love so invincible so that I will love my soulmate with an endless, pure love. AMEN!