Peter put his cup of tea down and looked Jabu straight in the eye as he spoke. "Jabu, you said you wanted my advice about a personal problem. But you know we have differences in faith. You are ZCC and I am simply a Christian."

"Yes, Peter, but you know the Bible better than any of my other friends. And I want to know what God says about this." Then Jabu hung his head and hesitated.

"How can I help you?" asked Peter softly.

Jabu did not raise his troubled head as he replied, "I don't really know how it happened, but there is this girl at work. Well, one day we just started talking and after awhile...well...I've fallen in love with her! My wife and I have so many fights. We are both so unhappy. Wouldn't it be better if we got a divorce?"

Peter was stunned. "Jabu! You can't be serious!"

"Well, it does bother me...but...so many people are doing it these days. And it is also wrong to keep fighting with my wife. Surely God doesn't want my wife and I to be unhappy all our lives!"

After a quick, silent prayer, Peter said firmly, "Jabu, you know from our previous studies that what other people do and think is of little value. Will you read Matthew 19:3-9? The people in this passage asked Jesus the very same question you are now asking me!"

Jabu read: "The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him and saying to Him, 'Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?' And He answered and said to them, 'Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning made them male and female and said,"For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh"? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.' "

Jabu stopped reading and lifted his head. "Yes, but we did not have a church wedding, just a traditional wedding."

Peter replied kindly, "There is no Bible authority for the church to marry people, but, as you know, God does say that we must obey the laws of our land. When you obeyed those laws, God joined you together. In Malachi 3 God says he hates divorce. God's laws for marriage apply to all men -- just like his laws for murder and stealing. Jabu, I want to help you. Please read verse 9 and tell me if God will allow you to divorce your wife."

Again Jabu read: "And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery."

As he finished, Peter said, "Jabu, be very honest before God now -- has your wife been sleeping with another man? May you divorce her?"

Jabu began to sweat. "Well, I don't think she has slept with other men, but surely God allows other reasons for divorce. Isn't there a verse that says if your unbelieving mate leaves you, you are not bound to them any more? After all, according to you, my wife is not a true believer."

"Yes," said Peter calmly, "Paul said that in 1 Cor.7:15 -- but in verse 11 he has already said that they must remain unmarried, or else be reconciled. We must be careful not to cause Scriptures to go against each other. Jesus gave only one reason for divorce -- and that is all there is. Besides, I do not want to sound too technical, but the word for "bound" in 1 Cor.7:15 is not the same Bible word as the marriage bond in verse 39. It is the word for slavery. I cannot force my wife to remain married to me because she is not my slave. I do not have to sin in order to keep my wife from leaving me because I am not her slave. You see, God's commandments never go against one another."

"But...but what if my wife gets drunk, fights with me and the children, spends all my money, and doesn't cook or clean house?"

"All I can say, Jabu, is, read Matthew 19:9 again."

"And I say to you, whoever, divorces his wife, expect for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery." Jabu was speechless for a minute. Then he asked, "I thought God was a God of love. How can God be so harsh?"

"This verse is here because God wants us to work out our problems instead of running away from them. He knows that it is the only way we can have truly strong, happy marriages. You have to work at your marriage to make it strong. My father used to always say, 'A strong ox is a working ox.' God also knows that children need BOTH parents in order to grow up emotionally healthy."

Jabu's reply was full of pain. "Yes, I know God is right. I know that what you are telling me is right. But I have lost my love for my wife. I am so unhappy. How can I ever have a strong marriage when I feel like this?"

Peter began to feel some hope. "Jabu, turn to Ephesians 5. Perhaps you have lost your love for your wife because you have not been taught the proper way to love her."

At Peter's direction, Jabu began to read, "Husbands love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it...So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies...for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church."

"Jabu," said Peter, "Love is not just about feelings. It is about being unselfish -- sacrificing your own desires in order to give your wife what she needs -- not just physically, but emotionally -- just like Christ sacrificed His life because of our need of salvation. If you love your wife in this way, she will start loving you too -- and you will both become very happy. You know that Jesus said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' "

In a voice charged with emotion, Jabu answered, "Peter, your knowledge of God's word has saved me from great trouble...I have been such a fool...I am just thankful that I never went so far as to commit adultery. I am going to stop being friendly with this girl at work and concentrate on being a husband who truly loves his wife. Not only that, but I want to be like you."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, I need God's help. Not only is divorce wrong, but it is also wrong to stay in a denomination that worships God according to the teachings of men. I am ready to become simply a Christian and a part of the Lord’s church."

Now it was Peter's turn to speak with great emotion."I rejoice with you, my friend! Let's pray; then we will go to the river."