MARRIAGE - 40 Questions to Answer Before You Say 'I Do!'

MARRIAGE MARRIAGE MARRIAGE Marriage MARRIAGE MARRIAGE MARRIAGE

'40 Questions' to answer before you say, "I Do."

"...Have ye not read, that He which made them at the beginning made them male and female , 5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they two shall be one flesh? 6 Wherefore they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." Matthew 19:4-6kjv See also (Genesis 1:26, 5:2kjv).

Bro. Donald M. & Margaret Orand

celebrating twenty years of a loving marriage.

Marriage is the joining together of male and female in 'oneness' by God, for a period of time determined only by one's lifespan. Divorce should not be the option to a compatible and peaceful life. Divorce takes precedence over marriage when a proper foundation has not been established prior to marriage. The following questions should help you determine if the person you are considering for holy matrimony is the right person.

Question 1: Do they have a desire to learn more about God, developing their spiritual relationship with Him?

Question 2: Can you trust them out of your presence?

Question 3: Can you trust them around your best friends and family?

Question 4: Can you trust them with the hidden secrets of your heart?

Question 5: Can you trust them with the pain of your past?

Question 6: Can you trust them with your money and property?

Question 7: Can you trust them with the knowledge of your weaknesses?

Question 8: Do they motivate you to excel in life without always expanding upon your faults?

Question 9: In times of quiet consultation, are their 'words of counsel' in line, and not contrary to the Word of God?

Question 10: Do you enjoy them during your times of strength, as well as your times of weakness?

Question 11: Is the person they consider as their 'hero' or 'mentor' a positive role model?

Question 12: Do they consider, in their decision making process, your personal advice and counsel?

Question 13: Do they surround themselves with positive people?

Question 14: Is your time spent with them positive, and not leave you with a feeling of disappointment or guilt?

Question 15: Are your conversations with them free-flowing and without burden, talking with and not at one another?

Question 16: Do they praise you and show respect for your lifetime victories, no matter how great or small. Do they admire your achievements?

Question 17: Are you excited with the prospect of introducing them to those you love, and do not dread or see it as confrontational?

Question 18: What type of relationship do they maintain with their parents? Do they honor their father and their mother?

Question 19: Do they seek to understand you instead of always wanting you to understand them? Are your pleasures in life a priority?

Question 20: Do they portray a confidence and qualified ability to walk by your side as your lifetime mate, without exuding an inferior attitude, and always making excuses for their failures?

Question 21: Are they motivated by their own dreams and visions for life, without always seeking outside stimulation for their motivation?

Question 22: Do you find them comfortable when in the presence of Christians, church events, and subjects relating to God?

Question 23: Do they have a job? Are they willing to work and provide for their household?

Question 24: Are they able to overcome little problems without releasing tremendous anger?

Question 25: Are they submitted to spiritual leadership and spiritual mentors? If so, do these spiritual influences coincide with the Word of God?

Question 26: Do their parents welcome you into their family and accept your position in life?

Question 27: Were their previous relationships broken in a peaceful manner without continuing to harbor resentment?

Question 28: When someone makes accusation against you, is your potential mate loyal to you and your relationship, refusing to embrace the accusations without first hearing your account of the facts?

Question 29: Is it obvious to you, that education, employment, financial structure, and social position will never maintain the priority in their life over your personal relationship?

Question 30: Do they show respect for other peoples' schedules, agendas, and assignments in life, never being late for an appointment, not feeling their timing and time is more important than that of others?

Question 31: Is breaking the law deplorable and serious to them?

Question 32: Is their attention focused upon you when in the presence of the opposite sex, rather than flirting?

Question 33: Do they get excited about being in or participating with a group of people that do live a Christian lifestyle? Do they enjoy an atmosphere of tranquility and peacefulness, rather than rebellion?

Question 34: Do they show remorse and repentance concerning their past mistakes and sins? Do they trust you to speak to you about the sins of their past?

Question 35: Do you see continuous improvement as your relationship progresses in time or has the 'dew already begun to fade from the rose?' Has your bonding continued to increase, without finding yourselves in constant arguments?

Question 36: Do they ask questions concerning your greatest dreams and goals? If so, do they portray intention to aid in their accomplishment?

Question 37: Do you still maintain your desire to impress them? Are you as excited when they leave your presence as your are when you first see them?

Question 38: Are they captivated by what captivates you, stirred by what stirs you, excited by what excites you, without always marching to their own drummer?

Question 39: When you sow into their life a listening ear, flexibility, patience, love, a willingness to be corrected, do they sow the same back in to your life?

Question 40: Do you possess an intense, passionate desire to give your life, possessions, dreams, hopes, goals, and all that you possess into their hands, heart and mind for safe keeping?

THE ANSWER TO EVERY QUESTION SHOULD BE AFFIRMED WITH A 'YES.' IF YOU FIND 'NO' AS A RESPONSE, THIS IS AN INDICATION OF INSTABILITY AND AN IMPROPER FOUNDATION FOR MARRIAGE. DO NOT THINK YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR MATE AFTER MARRIAGE, THE CHANGE MUST COME BEFORE THE LIFETIME COMMITMENT, OR EVENTUALLY CONFRONTATION WILL ERUPT WITH SOMETIMES DEVASTATING RESULTS. A GOOD UNDERSTANDING MAKES FOR LIFETIME RELATIONSHIP. GOD BLESS. MARRIAGE MARRIAARRIAGE MARRIAGE MARRIAGE

Two people, loving, living and sharing mutual space together will continually be confronted with each others' imperfections. These imperfections, as they are revealed after marriage, can readily be dealt with, if you have used the proper criteria in making your decision prior to marriage. For instance, if you have a difference of opinion, and you used the Word of God as your criteria, then you will pull the proper truth from the Word of God to meet the situation under discussion, and thus resolve the difference. However, if you have married someone using the wrong criteria, example being anger over 'little problems,' anger becomes the priority, reason never enters in, and the only result becomes your compliance to the anger. Years of this type activity create a dead, lifeless marriage and eventual divorce.

There is no marriage outside of God. Many people attempt marriage outside of God, but it only becomes legal cohabitation. There is only one criteria by which marriage can be established, and Jesus said it so plainly when He said, "They... must worship Me in Spirit and in truth." Marriage was the first and purest order of worship, which God set in the earth. By the Spirit of God, and by the Word of God, perfection can be obtained. The above forty questions, which are established on biblical criteria, when answered in a positive manner, will produce for you a happy, joyful, exciting and productive marital life. Marriage should not be taken lightly, for wrong decisions cause lifetime pain. Right decisions cause lifetime gain! Marriage should not be a burden to bear! Marriage is about being fruitful, and multiplying what is within you, that you both will have an enjoyable, exciting adventure of a lifetime.

The above, by Bro. Orand, is given to you for the purpose of your great success, much of which he has used in ministerial counseling through the past twenty years, proof of the success, he has never performed a wedding service that ended in divorce.