Ravi Zacharias’ Advice for Those Seeking Marriage

Ravi Zacharias offers wise advice to those preparing for and seeking marriage. Here are some excerpts from his Focus on the Family Broadcast interview.

Earlier this week, Focus on the Family had a great broadcast with Ravi Zacharias called “I, Isaac, Take You, Rebekah.” Ravi shared his convictions on how young adults should prepare for and make decisions regarding marriage. I consider it “must-listening” for those on the road to marriage. If you have time, I recommend you listen to both half-hour broadcasts in their entirety. If you don’t have time, here are a few of the best excerpts.

“Chances are, if you marry somebody in violation with your parents’ will, I suggest you are playing a dangerous game with God. I just say this very plainly to you, young people: Be immensely careful when you make the pledge of your life to somebody if your parents are not in sympathy with it, particularly so if your parents are men and women who love God.”

“And that’s why — please hear me — when you come to that pivotal moment of decision, my suggestion to you is seek the advice of somebody you love and respect and don’t try to do it on your own just because you have the romantic feelings. Get the wisdom of your minister, the wisdom of your parents, the wisdom of friends and realize that romance has to be transcended by a strong will and a degree of commitment to you.”

“And I want to go so far as to say there is never a reason to be unkind. There may be reasons to disagree. There may be reasons to struggle; after all, two wills are merging into one. There are constant compromises and surrenders, but there is never a reason to be unkind…. Young people, this is the moment in your life — please hear me — when he who is wooing you will be at his kindest. And if you do not see that kindness in that person, watch out. For that partnership will be nourished and nurtured on the basis of a love that is not arrogant, but a love that is kind.”

“Marriage means handing over yourself, your body, your future, your keeping to the one whom you dearly love, although this person may, in many ways, remain a stranger. This tremendous act of faith is something that can unlock in each lover powers of compassion, generosity, joy, passion, fidelity and hope that no one guessed was even there. That is why the confidence of young lovers is not foolish or arrogant, but an expression of a basic fact in human experience that the greatest of human gifts are set to work only when people are prepared to risk everything … and first you risk it before God.”

Ravi Zacharias offers wise advice to those preparing for and seeking marriage. Again, I’d encourage you to take the time to listen to these broadcasts in their entirety. Do you agree or disagree with Ravi’s advice?