Chapter 10—When Counsel is Needed
Get Counsel From the Bible—Instituted by God, marriage is
a sacred ordinance and should never be entered upon in a spirit of
selfishness. Those who contemplate this step should solemnly and
prayerfully consider its importance and seek divine counsel that they
may know whether they are pursuing a course in harmony with the
will of God. The instruction given in God’s word on this point should
be carefully considered. Heaven looks with pleasure upon a marriage
formed with an earnest desire to conform to the directions given in the
Scripture
If there is any subject that should be considered with calm reason
and unimpassioned judgment, it is the subject of marriage. If ever the
Bible is needed as a counselor, it is before taking a step that binds
persons together for life. But the prevailing sentiment is that in this
matter the feelings are to be the guide, and in too many cases lovesick
sentimentalism takes the helm and guides to certain ruin. It is here
that the youth show less intelligence than on any other subject; it is
here that they refuse to be reasoned with. The question of marriage
seems to have a bewitching power over them. They do not submit
themselves to God. Their senses are enchained, and they move forward
in secretiveness, as if fearful that their plans would be interfered with
by someone
Many are sailing in a dangerous harbor. They need a pilot; but they
scorn to accept the much-needed help, feeling that they are competent
to guide their own bark, and not realizing that it is about to strike
a hidden rock that may cause them to make shipwreck of faith and
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happiness.... Unless they are diligent students of that word [the Bible],
they will make grave mistakes which will mar their happiness and that
of others, both for the present and the future life
1
Letter 17, 1896
.
2
Fundamentals of Christian Education, 103
.
3
Ibid., 100
.
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