Your Marriage Can Work Episode 3: INSTRUCTION GAPS

Your Marriage Can Work

Episode 3

INSTRUCTION GAPS

2 Kings 4:1-3.

"1. Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen. 2. And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil. 3. Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few."

Welcome to "Your Marriage Can Work" Episode 3. Today we are discussing what I called "Instruction Gap". By this we will be revealing some causes of marital issue in many homes today. Permit me to start by saying, when we were looking for the right man or woman to get married to, we often go to God in prayers for many days, weeks or even months. I remembered I fasted 3 days dry fast, close to five (5) months consecutively for my spouse. Many of us ended up receiving the direction that led to that right choice we had today or in time past but along the line things weren't moving the way we desire which has led to many quitting their marriage, opting for divorce or separation and some seems to look outside while still in the marriage. But what actually went wrong? That is what I called "Instruction Gap". This is the process of taking half baked instructions without seeking for subsequent guidance. When we've received from God, we turned back on him with the hope that we've gotten all we want and this is where we are wrong.

In our passage, the Bible was talking about a widow whose late husband left her with debt at the detriment of their two sons as collateral. She went to Prophet Elisha to seek help as we went to God to ask for our future partner. Elisha gave her instructions to go and borrow empty vessels and fill it with the little oil she has at home. That was the instruction she needed at the moment. Now listen to this, the fulfilment of that instruction is the determinant of the next one. If the first instruction was not carried out successfully, there will be no access to the next instruction.

The woman went as instructed, she borrowed many empty vessels, shot the door on herself and began to fill the vessels until there were no more vessels. What did she do next, she went back to the prophet for the next instruction to take.

2 Kings 4:7,

"7. Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest."

This is where we mostly get it wrong after receiving God's will for our lives. The woman went back to Prophet Elisha, "sir what should I do with the vessels of Oil?" And he gave her another instructor, "Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest." 

She never acted too know like we do in our marriage today, she went back for further instructions on the vessels of oil. 

When was the last time you asked God for the next instruction about your marriage, about your spouse, about his/her work like you did when you were praying about a future partner years ago? When God gave you that spouse did you ever ask what your assignment is in that person's life? Did you even go back to God to thank him after the wedding? When the storms rise in your marriage, do you go to God or your friends and family who were not able to give you a spouse when you were single? Whose instruction are you following in your marriage presently, social media or God's instruction? Your parents' attitude becomes what you exhibit in your marriage instead of God's instructions that laid the foundation of your marriage. It's time to go back to God and ask, what should I do with the Vessels of oil? It's time to close the instruction gap between you and God concerning that marriage. If God really spoke to you about that marriage that means you have all it takes to handle every situation in that marriage. But until He gives you the needed instruction you can't get it right with human knowledge. One peculiar thing about marriage is that, one principle doesn't work for two marriages, you must identify the principle that works for your home and where do you get it from? From the same person that gave you the instructions on who to get married to. Close the instruction gap by asking God for the next instruction about your marriage, not your parents, friends or loved ones. It's not too late to ask Him. Every marriage He's involved in always lasts forever, it always works even in the face of storms, so close the Instruction Gap between you and your God today and your home will be the heaven on earth that you desire.

Your marriage will work. See you in the next edition next week tuesday.

Joy & Emmanuel Oluboye