When a person hears so many people speaking and acting outside the Word, they can't bear to pay attention to it at first. However, as time goes by, they don't even pay attention to these matters anymore and, without realizing it, they begin to think about what they have heard wrong and even approve of some aberrations. The Father declares: For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil (1 Peter 3:12).

           The Samaritan woman said she didn't have a husband, but omitted to mention that she was with someone. She had been married five times, but as the days went by, many difficult situations arose, and her dreams of being a happy mother of a family disappeared. There is no sin in getting married, as long as it is in the Lord. The Word gives the following recommendation through Paul: A wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married whomever to whom she wishes, only in the Lord (1 Corinthians 7:39).

           In our culture, the decision to unite in marriage rests with the bride and groom. However, in countries where this is handled by the parents, sometimes the girl meets her future husband only ten minutes before the ceremony. It is interesting to note that divorce is not common in these nations, because couples respect their parents until death and are happy.

           If you ask an Indian woman, for example, if she is happy with the husband she met just before getting married, she will say yes, and this way of proceeding is passed on to new generations. Each people have its own culture, so you can't condemn those who act in this way. Christians, on the other hand, have the Word of God as a rule for their actions.

           Jesus approved of the Samaritan woman's sincerity when she revealed that the person she was living with was not her husband, since she had not joined herself to him according to the Scriptures. The Bible says that the authorities of the civil government can perform the marriage of a man and a woman, because they have been ordained by God. In addition, the Lord’s minister has the power to perform the ceremony (Romans 13:1-4). Always follow what the Word prescribes and live in peace!

           The woman left the Master with His disciples and went into town to tell everyone that she had found the Messiah (John 4.28-30). Since she had credibility, even if many didn't consider her so - due to the fact that she went to fetch water from the well at midday, instead of in the morning when married women of good repute went - the men of the town followed her to where Christ was. Anyone who has an encounter with Jesus changes their mind about Him!

          The Savior also explained that the person who lived with her as if he were her husband was not. A popular saying in Brazil goes: “A friend with faith is married”, but God directs it this way: Marriage is honorable among all and the bed undefiled, but fornicators and adulterers God will judge (Hebrews 13.4).

       In Christ, with love,

       R. R. Soares