“THE SAME MIND IN THE LORD”
P. J. Walkinshaw
I would like to speak very simply, beloved brethren, as to the importance of being of the same mind in the Lord. This scripture, of course, refers to two sisters. I would like to apply it to husband and wife as to the importance of being of the same mind in the Lord. Marriage, of course, is of God. It is a natural relationship, and a blessed one. I think as in it we should all be exercised, with our wives or husbands, to be of the same mind in the Lord. It is not simply agreeing as to natural things or getting on with one another naturally. I think, as we are often reminded, we should put first things first and be of one mind in the Lord. I would appeal to each of us, particularly our brother and sister who have been married today, and then to those amongst us perhaps contemplating marriage, that we should think about this verse and ensure that we are of the same mind in the Lord. I think in that way we will find blessing. Not only are we to be of the same mind in natural things and all the affairs of life, but we should bring the Lord into all our circumstances and put Him first, as Joshua said, “but as for me and my house, we will serve Jehovah”, Joshua 24: 15. I think that is the important thing. A much greater thing than the natural is to put the Lord first that He might come in and bless the household as we are of the same mind in the Lord. So as exercises come up, as they do amongst us, I think a man and his wife would be of the same mind in the Lord.
It is important, I feel, to arrive at this before we get married; then the marriage will be on a firm foundation, and the Lord will bless it as we put Him first and have the same mind about His things. A man, of course, is head of his house and a wife is to be subject to her husband, but I feel simply that that is not the husband laying down the law and the wife doing what she is told. I think the two are to be together.as were Priscilla and Aquila who are often referred to as having one neck when they looked after Paul, and looked after the interests of the Lord. They were one in the matter. So there was no question of one wanting to do one thing and one another. I think that, as before God, and before the Lord, and with the help of the Spirit, they had the same mind in the Lord.
So I just had this simple impression of how important it is for each of us, not only those of us that are married but each of us in our localities, to be of the same mind in the Lord. Then particularly for our beloved brother and sister as they begin their married life together and those of us who are married, and those, as I have said, who are contemplating marriage, that we should be exercised that we should be of the same mind in the Lord. May He bless the word, for His name’s sake.
Word at the marriage of Mr. A. McKay and Miss P. Wright, Redbridge
26 September 1987