1Corinthians 7:16 (NLT)
“Don’t you wives realize that your husbands might be saved because of you? And don’t you husbands realize that your wives might be saved because of you?”
My grandmother would sometimes say that you can’t teach anything to a person that’s set in their ways. There’s Bible precedent for that saying. Many of us are stubborn and stuck in our ways, and we have refused to change. A person that is humble is teachable and eager to learn, but someone who thinks they know everything is unteachable and usually inflexible as well. They know what they know, and they don’t want to know anything different. Often, this kind of inflexibility and refusal to step outside our comfort zones blocks us from acquiring the very revelation and knowledge that will lead us to the blessing. We need to recognize that a refusal to humble ourselves under God’s standards and wisdom will keep us separated from the blessings we desire most.
Whether it’s increased health, abundance, or a new relationship, to obtain any of these in a greater way, the change must first occur within us. We can’t hold on to the same personality traits and habit patterns we’ve always had. This has been the issue for many women that have been single all their lives. They have refused to change in a way that measures up to the example of Christ. So, essentially, they are refusing to move out of their own way.
I know a very attractive woman that’s approaching 50 and has a deep desire to find a good man and get married. Divorced for many years, she has two adult daughters and neither of them have been married either. She has taught them that a man is only a viable option if his income matches or exceeds their income. Mother and daughters have good jobs and can live independent of a man’s support, but they all want to be married. They just don’t want their lifestyles to be altered in order to have relationships.
According to the standard of God’s Word, these women have a way of thinking that keeps the blessing of marriage out of reach. It’s not a crime to want to partner with men who will bring resources to the relationship that equal yours, but it’s a lack of faith that prompts us to try to control that. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God; anyone that comes to Him must have faith that He exists, and that He is a Rewarder to those that diligently seek Him. For all desires, we must seek God in faith. Period. You might have umpteen degrees, but if you think your wisdom exceeds God’s wisdom, those degrees mean nothing. God is in control, and to walk in His blessings, we must yield our will for His Will. Anything less than that is not faith.
2Corinthians 9:8 (NLT) says, “And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.” God doesn’t do anything halfway. He’s God, the Creator of all that we survey. He’s intelligent beyond intelligence, brilliant beyond brilliance, and generous beyond generosity. He’s the One with the plan for our individual lives. When we come to Him in prayer, we must know who He is, and we must trust with all our hearts that God never makes a mistake. He knows every detail of our lives, from the smallest to the greatest. He knows exactly what we need and what He wants to give us.
We don’t get to tell God how He should bless us. Proverbs 1:7 (NLT) declares, “Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” It’s not wisdom to teach anyone that a person’s worth is valued by what he or she makes. That’s the world’s point of view. Reverence, honor, and respect for God is the foundation of true knowledge. This is the knowledge that leads us to success and prosperity in life. We must open our eyes and recognize that our refusal to be humble and teachable towards God is what leads us to lack and loneliness.
Galatians 6:7(NLT) says, “Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.” God’s law of sowing and reaping is immutable. It works with a mathematical precision, and there’s nothing we can do to stop this law from working. When we sow or put something out there, we have to reap or get it back. We will always reap what we sow. It’s just that simple. Many of us desire to be married, but whenever there’s a crack in the door for us to learn God’s standard regarding the way we should think and behave when it comes to dating and matrimony, we remain unmovable. We’re putting this inflexibility out there, on full blast, and this inflexibility—this inability to move upward or forward—is exactly what we’re reaping or getting back. We can change this, and we should.
After Paul taught God’s wisdom regarding singleness and marriage, he said in 1Corinthians 7:35 (NLT) “I am saying this for your benefit, not to place restrictions on you. I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible.” God is not trying to restrict us by giving us His standards. He is helping us to grow in faith and blessings so that we can have all He wants to give us. We don’t have it all figured out, but God absolutely does. His way is forever and always the best way, and as we yield to this truth, we will position ourselves to receive all He has in store for us. ■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“A Woman’s Unteachable Mind”, written by Kim Times, edited by Reverend Fran Mack and KLizzie for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2023. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.