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“Having Nothing and Yet Possessing All Things”The Watchtower—1975 | September 15
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spiritual riches first by fully taking advantage of the many provisions Jehovah has made. Let us share with others the good news of the Kingdom, helping them to obtain spiritual riches, and continually keeping our material possessions in their place and building up a record with our Father in the heavens. May it be ours to have the joy and privilege of being “as poor but making many rich, as having nothing and yet possessing all things.”—2 Cor. 6:10.
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Questions From ReadersThe Watchtower—1975 | September 15
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Questions From Readers
● If an unbelieving mate separates from the believing mate, would there not be a basis for dissolving the marriage Scripturally, in view of 1 Corinthians 7:15, where Paul says: “ . . . a brother or a sister is not in servitude under such circumstances, but God has called you to peace”?
No, the apostle is not discussing divorce here, but merely reassuring the Christian that he or she need not feel disapproved if the unbeliever deliberately departs despite the conscientious efforts of the believer to dwell with the unbelieving mate in peace.
Paul had just encouraged the believing mate not to leave if the unbelieving one “is agreeable to dwelling with” the Christian. Why? “For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in relation to his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in relation to the brother; otherwise, your children would really be unclean, but now they are holy.”—1 Cor. 7:12-14.
In view of this, the question naturally would arise as to what situation this would leave the believer in, if the unbelieving mate departed despite the good efforts of the believer. Should he or she now feel disapproved by God or feel that the children are unholy because of the forced separation over which the believer has no control?
No, for the apostle answers: “But if the unbelieving one proceeds to depart, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not in servitude under such circumstances, but God has called you to peace.” Having done all that is reasonably possible to avoid a separation, the believing one need feel no responsibility to chase after the unbeliever in an attempt to fulfill a “servitude” to that one. If the unbeliever had stayed and was willing to dwell with the believer in peace, the believer would be in “servitude” to fulfill the marriage responsibilities. But the apostle recognizes that the forced separation makes it impossible for the believer to do so.
The Christian now has a measure of peace in which to serve Jehovah, even though the separation will normally cause some emotional and physical adjustments. Moreover, trying to force a reconciliation would likely increase the strained relations. Perhaps the unbeliever will desire to return in time. This would be desirable, with the goal of living together peacefully and with the hope that the unbeliever will become a fellow believer. This would be in accord with the general instructions given earlier in 1 Co 7 verses 10 and 11, that, in the event of separation, they should “remain unmarried or else make up again.”
Meanwhile, this would not prevent the wife, if she is the believer, from taking legal action for the support of herself and her children, if she felt this advisable and necessary. The Scriptures, and often the law of the land, place upon the father and husband the responsibility to support his family.
Jesus did not say that it would be all right for the believer to remarry if the unbelieving mate departed from the believer and obtained a legal divorce. And the apostle Paul does not go beyond what Jesus said by giving here what Catholic authorities call the “Pauline privilege.” Paul is arguing strongly in favor of preserving the marriage tie, not breaking it. Death obviously breaks the marriage bond. But while both mates are alive, only “fornication” (Greek, por·neiʹa) gives the faithful mate a basis for
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