Thursday, June 11, 2009

Are You Playing House Or Buillding A Home?


(Photo source Inmagine)
I was watching a re-run of Hee Haw this afternoon and something really struck a chord with me. Among other guest singers that were spotlighted on this episode, Tammy Wynette was the one who made me think. I heard this song of hers many times in the past as a child, but I never thought about in the manner that I did today. The song that I am speaking of was "I Don't Want To Play House." Some of you may be familiar with it but in case you're not, I have posted the lyrics and a clip of it for you.

In today's society, it is pretty much the norm and accepted for marriages to not be thought of anything more than "disposable" at best. In years, not too long ago, when a man & woman entered into the sanctity of married (yes, I said it..a man & a woman) it was a forever union. It seems now that marriage is entered into with the mentality of "if it doesn't serve my needs then I can leave it." How terribly sad this is. Men and women have become so selfish that they think of only themselves and what they can get out of a marriage instead of what they can put into their marriage.

As I look back at the last almost 11 years that Hubby & I have been married, I can recall the many friends, co-workers and the like that married around the time that we did or shortly after. Sadly, not one of those marriages are still in existence. This grieves me so deeply. Hubby & I have our ups and downs (as does any marriage) but we have pressed in and pressed on together. We never once considered divorcing, and we still wouldn't. In fact, over dinner a few weeks ago Hubby & I were talking about this very issue. There is not one issue that we could think of that would even warrant us thinking about divorce. GOD brought us together and joined us together, forever! So no matter what we will not let anything or anyone tear apart that which the LORD has joined together. True love is strong love.

Isaiah 54:17 "
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD."

On the other side of the marriage scenario are the ideals some have of "why marry when we can just live together!?!" These individuals go through the motions and actions of playing house together but ultimately playing house doesn't build a home. Sin is sin.

I Corinthians 6:18 "Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body."
I Thessalonians 4: 3-4 "For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;"

I Corinthians 7:2 "Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband."

Hebrews 13:4 "Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge."

John 8:34-36 "Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."

Do we really want to live in a world where we are teaching our children that marriage is nothing more than a commodity that carries it's own shelf life? Do we want our sons and daughters growing up with the mindset that family really isn't forever? How do we stop the cycle of broken homes and marriages? The answer is simple...ask GOD to be the LORD of your life and then allow HIM to be LORD of your marriage. Spend time daily in HIS Word, you'll find everything you need to know about how to stay married, build your family, love each other and remain faithful. For anyone looking for a spouse, GOD has the answer for that too. Just open HIS Word and find out for yourself.

Let's stop playing house and start building forever homes. Leave your children a legacy of endurance and faithfulness. Let your life and marriage be a testimony of GOD'S love for all to see.


I Don't Wanna Play House
(Billy Sherrill/Glenn Sutton)

Today I sat alone at the window
And I watched our little girl outside at play
With the little boy next door like so many times before
But something didn't seem quite right today

So I went outside to see what they were doing
And then the teardrops made my eyes grow dim
'Cause I heard him name a game and I hung my head in shame
When I heard our little girl say to him.

I don't wanna play house; I know it can't be fun
I've watched mommy and daddy
And if that's the way it's done
I don't wanna play house; It makes my mommy cry
'Cause when she played house
My daddy said good-bye.

I don't wanna play house; I know it can't be fun
I've watched mommy and daddy
And if that's the way it's done
I don't wanna play house; It makes my mommy cry
'Cause when she played house
My daddy said good-bye.

5 comments:

Charee Nickel Kinser said...

I have been following your blog for a month or so. I love the book Love Dare. I have been thinking about how many people I DONT know that are still together. It is something that really disturbs and saddens me. When children are involved that makes it worse still. I just talked to an old friend this week that after 5 years decided that "its just not meant to be". Thanks for the post, and all the verses on topic. Have a blessed week.

Sandra said...

My heart is grieved as well. Several of the families that started out with us as young Christians are no longer together. The devil lays a snare and they step into it and never think about the effect it is going to have on both them and their children. By the time they see it, it is too late to undo it all. God's way is ALWAYS the best. We just have to trust him by faith and do what is right.

Unknown said...

On the lighter side: my brother-in-law always used to sing this in the shower! After my sister told me, I searched for a shower curtain with the lyrics but never found one. That would have been a great gift and yes, they are still together. The lyrics make you think about somebody besides yourself, don't they?

Anonymous said...

This was a good post. I hate to admit it, but I "played house" for 4 months before I got married. God would not allow me to continue to "live in sin" with a man that I was not married to. I would try to pray to Him about things, but I couldn't because of the grave sin that was hanging over my head about living with a man without the marriage covenant.

I would never advise young couples to just "live together" to "see how things work." It's a dangerous game that should not be played.

Sarah said...

I couldn't agree more with this post, as you probably know. :) Marriages are so prone to the devil's snare. From the moment you say, "I do", the devil works on your weaknesses to prey and trap and snare. Only by God's intervention, and divine assistance, can a marriage survive and thrive. May he grant us the opportunity to be witnesses to others and help be a light in this dark, dark world!