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&In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths&

God Doesn't Bicker"

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As I sat at the supper table last night, the news was on in the next room.  Well, I didn't hear most of the news, but one of the top stories I did hear and it truly was a sad story.  It was of a woman who had shot and killed her husband of thirty-seven years on Valentines Day.  I thought, "How in the world could two people live together that long and there be no hope of working things out?".  How indeed?  From all evidence of the report, both of these people in this story were lost and though that woman thought she was getting rid of her husband, unless God in His mercy doesn't save her, they will be once again united to spend eternity in hell. 

Another such sad story is that of O.J. Simpson who is accused of killing his wife of many years.  This story as with the other one is apparent one of a relationship without God.  As with the other story, though it appears that it is over, unless the Lord saves Mr. Simpson, they too will once again be reunited in hell.  When that reunion takes place, all the things they thought so important to bicker about will suddenly seem not very important.

Both of these stories are truly sad and it is very common to those who don't know the Lord and have not accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour.  Less apparent is the fact that many of God's people are doing the very same thing and though it may not seemingly end the same way, it is just as unpleasing to God.  Now, some may say, "Surely people who are saved could not live like that".  Well, I've seen a car tag that reads, "The Family That Prays Together Stays Together", and though that is a wonderful thought, it's not entirely true.  One such case would be the truly sad story of Dr. Charles Stanley and his wife of many years who split up awhile back.  I believe with all my heart, from what I know of Mr. Stanley that these are two people who not only know the Lord, but were a couple who prayed together regularly.  What went wrong, you may say.  Well, I don't know the circumstances of their relationship and I wouldn't dare try and guess what problems they may have had.  All I know for certain is that they did apparently have a problem and that they are not the only ones with such problems.  Bickering is a common problem among God's people just as it is with those who don't know him.

One might say, "What's a person to do if they can't get along even if they know the Lord and they pray together?"  Well, if you look around, you will see "How To" books on every corner on every subject and one such subject is the "How To Make Your Marriage Work" book.  All of these "How To" books make great door stops.  Now, I don't claim to be an expert on this or any other subject, but I do know the one who is and He has written the only "How To" book that will never fail.  Never.  That expert is God and His "How To" book is the Holy Bible. 

Many of God's children pray together and yet they still have trouble agreeing upon the smallest of things and if the problem is not soon corrected, these smallest of problems go on to become huge problems.  What to do?  Go to God's "How To" book.  The answer is throughout.  God's Word teaches unity all through it and that unity is the key that is missing in most problems causing and arising from bickering.  You know, two people can go to God in prayer on a regular basis and still not get along and that's because they don't go to Him in one accord and I'm not talking about a Honda.  Many people go to the Lord expecting Him to settle their differences and if you will notice, I have entitled this little article, "God Doesn't Bicker".  He doesn't.  He really doesn't.  If you would read through the Bible, you won't find one instance where God asks His people to do something.  His instructions come in the form of commands.  One such instance of a great man of God going to Him seeking God to intervene in a disagreement is that of Abraham.  Now, the first mistake in this example that Abraham made was when Sarah told him to go into her maidservant and produce a child. Genesis 16. First of all, Abraham neglected his duty and responsibility as the head of the relationship.  Then, rather than saying to Sarah, "Well, you know, I don't think that's what the Lord would have me to do, let us go to Him for guidance in this matter", he just said, "Well, okay" and he submitted to his wife's instructions and went into her.  As if that wasn't bad enough, after the child was born and Sarah had a change of  heart and she instructed him to put the child out, what did Abraham do?  He then took it upon himself to go to the Lord to take his side in the matter.  He really didn't want to put the child out and he wanted the Lord to say, "Abraham, you go ahead and let him stay".  Well, it didn't work that way for the Lord told him to do as Sarah had said.  Now, this is a prime example of what's wrong in many marriages of God's children today as well.  The instructions are laid out in His Word and if we don't want to go by His rules, there can only be one end. 

A good example of a couple going to the Lord in one accord seeking His instructions is found in that of the parents of Samson.  This story can be found in the book of Judges, chapter thirteen, verses two through nineteen.  Before Samson was born, it was revealed to his Mother that he would be used of the Lord.  When she told her husband what the angel of the Lord had revealed to her, he decided that they should seek the Lord's instructions as to how to handle the child, verse eight.  They both realized that something was about to happen and they wanted God's direction in the matter ahead of time.  They were in one accord in that they both wanted what the Lord wanted. 

Friends, as long as we see marriage as a circle of two as is represented with the wedding ring, there will always be bickering and God doesn't bicker.  Marriage has to be a triangle D of three.  One mate at the bottom left and one mate at the bottom right, with God in the center and at the top.  He must be supreme and when we go to Him in prayer it must be of one accord and not looking for Him to bicker for us.  Ephesians 5:21 says, "Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God."  My way is not always the right way and though it is appointed to me to be the head of the house, I am not quite perfect yet.  My wife as sweet and wonderful as she is, is not always right.  The one who is always right is in the center and at the head.  If our marriage is to work, it is His will that we must both be after.  If either of us should go to Him seeking any other thing, there is going to be bickering and "God Doesn't Bicker".  Let us all seek His will in every thing and not wait until after we have gone headlong into going in unto Sarah's handmaid to ask Him to take our side.  What shall we do Lord, not, What now Lord.