A wise man’s criteria for choosing a spouse are more likely to lead to a harmonious and happy family. These are:First, find a gentle and virtuous woman. Gentleness and virtue will make her willingly submit to him, preventing situations where both sides have their own arguments over trivial matters after marriage; the family is less likely to have disputes or fights.Second, find someone who only loves his soul, not anything else. She doesn’t want my money, my looks, my talent, my health, or my family background. She loves me solely for my soul. Being with me isn’t about trying to change or improve the person she sees as lacking. She loves me simply because I am who I am. She loves all the good qualities I have in others’ eyes, and she also loves all the flaws I have in others’ eyes. She loves me only because I am who I am. She truly loves only my soul, and doesn’t want anything else. Because if she’s after something else, nothing else is permanent. One day I might go bankrupt, my family might fall into poverty, I might lose my health, I might lose my beauty due to injury, and my former talents might be rendered obsolete by the times. At that point, I hope she still loves me as I am. Only such love can withstand the test of time and the ravages of years. Otherwise, when I can no longer satisfy her desires, at first she’ll complain, then slowly she’ll feel she’s losing out by being with me, she’ll think being single or finding someone better than me is more worthwhile, and ultimately she’ll leave me. Therefore, only someone who is both gentle and virtuous and truly loves me can truly walk peacefully with me through the ups and downs of life, grow old with me, and stay by my side until death.In fact, Jesus Christ’s criteria for finding a bride were the same: first, she must be gentle.
[Scripture]
Matthew 5:5 ESV
[5] “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
James 1:21 ESV
[21] Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
[End of Scripture]
Explanation: Receiving the word planted in your heart with a gentle heart is the way that can save your soul. It means abandoning all thoughts in your heart that seem correct and perfect but contradict the Word, and accepting God’s word. This will lead to your rebirth and salvation.Secondly, seek only your own heart, and nothing else.
[Scripture]
Matthew 6:24 ESV
[24] “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
Luke 16:13 ESV
[13] No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”
1 John 5:19 ESV
[19] We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
Matthew 4:8-9 ESV
[8] Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. [9] And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.”
Matthew 22:37-38 ESV
[37] And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. [38] This is the great and first commandment.
Mark 12:29-30 ESV
[29] Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. [30] And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’
Philippians 3:8 ESV
[8] Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ
[End of Scripture]
Third, those who do not seek miracles.
[Scripture]
Matthew 12:38-40 ESV
[38] Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” [39] But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. [40] For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Matthew 16:1-4 ESV
[1] And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. [2] He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ [3] And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. [4] An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” So he left them and departed.
Mark 8:11-12 ESV
[11] The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. [12] And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.”
[End of Scripture]
Explanation: Don’t focus on miracles.
[Scripture]
Mark 13:22-23 ESV
[22] For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. [23] But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 ESV
[1] Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, [2] not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. [3] Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, [4] who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. [5] Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? [6] And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. [7] For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. [8] And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. [9] The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, [10] and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. [11] Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, [12] in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
[End of Scripture]
Explanation: To love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength means to regard all things as rubbish in order to gain Christ. In other words, it means not seeking the kingdoms of Satan and their glory; further, it means not seeking the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, or the pride of life. Do not covet anything belonging to Satan; God will naturally give you everything you need. If a person cannot love and follow God simply because God is God, but instead desires God’s grace and miracles, then Satan will also give them what they ask for. Such a person, if God does not satisfy them at some point, will feel that Satan is better than God! Initially, they may only complain, but ultimately they will betray Him!Do not ask for miracles, and do not pay attention to miracles or wonders. No matter which pastor or preacher performs a miracle, do not take it seriously. Treat it as a magic show on television, and do not be impressed. Focus solely on following the word of your God. Only in this way can you become immune to Satan’s miracles. See
[Scripture]
Exodus 16:1-3 ESV
[1] They set out from Elim, and all the congregation of the people of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from the land of Egypt. [2] And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, [3] and the people of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”
Numbers 14:1-4 ESV
[1] Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night. [2] And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! [3] Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?” [4] And they said to one another, “Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt.”
[End of Scripture]
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