1 Corinthians 15:33 - Evil companions corrupt our morals. When you marry, you inherit your companion's family and friends. If you marry a faithful Christian, he will want to associate with Christians and good moral people.
But if you marry one who is not a Christian, his closest friends will not be Christians. And what about in-laws? Will your in-laws oppose your religious beliefs? How well you will get along with them, and how well will he get along with your family and friends?
You need to consider these questions seriously before marriage.
[Proverbs 13:20; 29:27]
A Christian will work with you, not against you, in raising your children.
Nearly all the concerns we have already discussed become magnified when the children come along. Each spouse wants the children raised in agreement with his or her views.
Ephesians 6:4; Genesis 18:19; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Proverbs 22:6 - Christians will agree to train the children "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." They will work together in regular Bible study and bringing the children to all the assemblies of the church (Hebrews 10:25).
But if you do not marry a Christian, your companion may discourage your children from studying the Bible, attending services, or becoming Christians. He or she may even insist that the children go with him to attend a false church or allow them to attend recreational or social activities instead of church meetings.
Proverbs 13:24 - Parents who are Christians have a standard for agreeing what moral principles they will teach their children. They will agree to chastise the children, firmly and consistently yet lovingly, to motivate them to obey (Heb. 12:5-11).
But if your companion is not a Christian, what will you do if he or she allows the children to drink, smoke, dress immodestly, use profanity, attend dances, go to wild parties, run with a bad crowd, or even share a bedroom with a friend of the opposite sex? What will you do if he refuses to punish the children when they need it, or if he opposes your efforts to discipline the children?
Nehemiah 13:23,24 - When Israelites married people of other nations and religions, their children were influenced by heathen parents. So your children will be influenced by your non-Christian spouse.
Raising children is difficult enough, even when the parents work together. How will you feel if one of your children is eternally lost because you chose to marry a non-Christian?
A Christian will help, not hinder, your efforts to achieve your most important goal: serving God and receiving eternal life.
Matthew 6:33 - We already learned that helping one another serve God should be the most important goal of our marriage. If you marry a Christian, he or she will share with you this major goal. But if you marry someone who is not a Christian, then he or she will not share with you the most important area of your life.
Revelation 20:14,15 - Anyone not found in the Book of Life will be sent into the lake of fire, the second death. Your spouse should be the dearest loved one on earth to you. If he or she is not a Christian, then you face the great likelihood that your dearest loved one will be lost eternally! Will you be able to live with that fact without compromising the truth to please them?
Nehemiah 13:26,27 - The Old Testament forbade marriage to people of other nations, because it would lead God's people into sin. Solomon was an example of one to whom this happened (Deut. 7:3,4). We do not live under the Old Testament, but the danger still exists.
You and your potential spouse need to thoroughly discuss all such concerns early in your relationship. If your companion promises he/she will change, give them plenty of time to prove they are willing to change before making any commitment about marriage. And give it long enough you are convinced the change for keeps.
If your marriage is to be happy and successful, you will need to go through life working with another faithful Christian.
[Matthew 16:24-27; Romans 12:1,2; John 6:27,63; Luke 12:15-21; 14:26; Matt. 10:34-37].
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