Deuteronomy 24 LAWS BETWEEN PEOPLE It never was, and is not now, God's intention that married people divorce. However, the fact remains that people do. The practice takes place and the effects of it are felt in families, communities, countries and assemblies. There were those in Israel who divorced their spouse for very insignificant reasons. That was what the Lord Jesus Christ spoke about when He was asked by the Pharisees to comment on what Moses said here. The Lord clearly addressed the matter by stating the fact that adultery was the only reason for this action to be taken scripturally. Most people who divorce today are not believers and still the practice of divorcing a spouse on a whim takes place. The divorce of a man and woman was a permanent act. Moses said they were not able to be remarried to the same person again after they had been with someone else. The seed was adulterated and would not be allowed to be mixed. A casual attitude toward marriage is not consistent with vows that are made. A separation and divorce over frivolous matters still did not make it possible to remarry the same person. That light approach to the ordinance of marriage was not right, so a divorce was final, permanent and there was no going back. It is important for every person to seriously approach marriage in the fear of the Lord. He initiated the institution, and He recognizes the breakup of a marriage. The relationship of Christian marriage is illustrated by Christ's love for the church and His willingness to give His life for His spiritual bride.
When people are first married there needs to be time and care devoted to establishing this new relationship on solid principles. There are distractions and pressures put on newly married people as they learn to accommodate themselves to one another, and to the likes and dislikes of each other. Outside influences from two different families also enter into the picture. The model one partner had from his family may be very different from what she learned from her family. To blend these as well as different backgrounds together and form a unique, workable relationship of their own, takes time, prayer, accommodation, discussion and compromise. The uniqueness of a new family unit is formed and it may take some characteristics from both families, but a new social unit is formed between these two people. There are burdens that have to be faced in the first year as this blending process takes place and roles are defined by practice and the process of give and take. The strengthening of a new marriage comes when the division of labor becomes clear to each person, and our expectations are modified to what is realistic to expect. All is not only "sweetness and light," but as days and weeks pass, the pleasure and expectations are established in the framework of what is real and workable between two people. The ethereal dreams of childhood fade and become real life with unexpected joys and pleasures that take the place of dreams. For these reasons a man needs to be with his wife and free to bring her the happiness and security she deserves.
Sometimes we may be in need of borrowing a particular item or even some money from a friend or neighbor for a certain task or need. Something of equal or greater value is given as a pledge to return that which was borrowed. That item of security was to be returned when the borrower returned the item he borrowed in good condition, but he could not demand the pledge of security by going and taking it. The lender had to be satisfied that what he had loaned was returned in good order before he had to return the pledge of security. He also had the privilege of inspecting what was returned without the borrower looking over his shoulder. After the lender was satisfied, he would voluntarily return the item of security to the borrower. The principle still remains, the borrower is servant to the lender, and the borrower is at the mercy of the lender's decision. God knows the reason for everything we do and it is a wise person who does not try to cover any aspect of business between himself and others.
There are crimes in almost every society that are considered extreme and are known as "capital crimes." Kidnapping is one of the most heinous of those, especially if it is a child who is kidnapped. The result of one person holding another against their will for a ransom, security, or any other reason, will be the full extent of the law is used against that kidnapper. Age does not enter into the consequences levied against the offender. A child is as important as a well-to-do man. In Israel the death sentence was imposed on the kidnapper. In many parts of the world today that is still the punishment for that crime. Each person is of equal value in the sight of God. He is as involved in the life of a child who is just beginning life as He is in those who are nearing the end of life. We need to look on each person and see them as God sees them. That will motivate us to reach out and meet needs as we seek to preserve their physical and spiritual life.
To jeopardize the lives of people by spreading fatal disease without consideration of the well-being of others is wrong. The transmission of disease has become a world-wide problem with the ease of world-wide travel. A person may make contact with someone who has the ebola virus in Africa and be anywhere in the world in one day. The bird flu in China can travel in a day to North America and in a week, thousands can be struck down with that sickness. Aids was a serious spreading problem that killed thousands and still does affect many after thirty years. It was God's way of dealing with communicable disease to isolate that person until the disease left them. It is selfish and wrong for a person to knowingly keep on with his business or pleasure and at the same time expose people to the potential of contacting the disease that he has.
Another area of interpersonal relationships with a potential for serious problems is that of an employer and employee. No matter who he is, the laborer should be paid a fair wage and be able to count on receiving it at the agreed upon time. Day laborers should be paid at the end of the day's work. Each person who contracts to work for another should give a good day's work for a day's pay. Between two Christians the practice should not be different. An employer shouldn't expect more from the employee because he is a brother in Christ. Likewise, the employee should not expect more pay or favors than anyone else who is doing the same work. A principle that should guide us as to our labor is, "Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do it heartily as unto the Lord, knowing that from the Lord ye shall receive the reward."
Children that have been brought up in our home should have been taught to do what is right, but they don't always do that. When a son or daughter runs into problems of their own making and are facing severe consequences because of it, we are to let them bear those consequences. Spoiled children often have never learned that there are consequences to accept for every action - good or bad. We do our children a disservice if we let them sin and get away with it. The laws of the country will not overlook what indulgent parents often overlook.
The same is true if a parent has a lifestyle such as an addiction that leads them into serious consequences. The son or daughter may be in a position to use their influence to let the parent free because of some obligation a person has to the adult child. But it is not right for us to try to influence some legal decision that should be carried out. The law should be able to take its course in order to maintain the demands of society, and the reputation and integrity of a person should not be compromised for the wrong behavior of a parent or a child.
The welfare of strangers who come among us is not to be ignored by the citizens of a place. To demand some compensation from the homeless or aliens before we give assistance to meet their need, is to forget that all we have and are, we owe to the Lord. "What dost thou have that thou didst not receive." We owe our life, our breath, our everything to the Lord who has provided for us. We are to be willing to provide for others.
An effective way of meeting the needs of the poor in the Bible times was to glean in one's field or orchard after the harvest has been taken off. Owners were to leave behind forgotten sheaves of grain and fruit that still remained on the trees after the harvesting for those who were needy to collect for their own use. The poor were free to come into a person's field and gather the left behind grain, or in the orchards the olives, figs or nuts that were still there. This promoted initiative on the part of the needy to take responsibility to help meet their own need. It is better for us to give a person the opportunity to work, than to give a handout that will not be enough to meet a real need, but will only partially salve our conscience. By opening up a labor opportunity we supply a need, give a person self-respect, and accomplish a goal. The poor will always be among us and we will always have an obligation to assist those who are less fortunate then we are.
The relationship between individuals is one that has to be nurtured and faced with respect for all who are involved. In the situations that arise that have to be acted upon we need God-given wisdom, and human common sense. There are ways to avoid problems in marriages, neighborhoods, the work-place, and when we have poor among us. The Lord knew what they were and gave us instructions ahead of time as to how to deal with them in the best possible ways. He gives us grace when grace is needed; strength when strength is needed and faith when faith is needed. These are all needed when we deal one-on-one with other people.