Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Tuesday June 16, 2009

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work. If one falls down, his friend can help him up. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10.

I know, I know, it’s Wednesday—but I’m running that far behind! Our text today is all about synergy—that is, two working together can achieve more than both working alone. That may not be the reason for marriage, but it can provide a positive outcome. Marriages today have a hard time staying the course; there are so many difficulties—compatibility, money, even basic selfishness—that seem to work against making marriage worthwhile. In addition, getting out of an inconvenient marriage seems so easy—at least to start with!

Many young couples we know have been through some frustrating times trying to make their marriage work. But they were not only committed to make marriage worthwhile, but to working together with their different, but complementary gifts, to ensure success in work or business, running their homes and to bring in a modest income. If each of them decided to pursue different—even legitimate—projects, they would lose the benefit of the increased effectiveness of working together. Especially when one becomes discouraged, it is frequently the other that provides support.

That has certainly been our experience; the teaching of scripture giving us a lifetime of wisdom and direction. We are continuing promotion of our book Happy Together: Daily Insights for Families from Scripture, with a journey west with several signing opportunities in bookstores already booked. This is very much a labour of love—the work is out of all proportion to the income received—but we are thoroughly convinced that marriage properly understood is the basis of harmony, not only in the family but in society as a whole. Why shouldn’t every couple have the joy that we have experienced?

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