[dropcap]R[/dropcap]ecently, there is this controversy going on in the social media that a man shouldn’t marry a woman who doesn’t know how to cook or a woman who doesn’t pray for an hour. So, I deem it necessary to clarify the issue. As the apostle of marriage, it’s my responsibility to clarify the issue to avoid causing more delayed marriage, separation and divorce in the world.
This is the will of God concerning the issue: You must not use cooking as a criterion for choosing your spouse. Though food is important in life, cooking must not be used as a criterion for choosing a spouse. Why? I tell you three reasons.
First, a woman who doesn’t know how to cook can actually learn how to cook. Second, a woman can employ the services of a professional cook. Third, a husband can tolerate if his wife doesn’t cook very well. Tolerance is important in marriage because everybody has weaknesses, both husbands and wives. If a woman doesn’t know how to cook, it should be regarded as a weakness and the husband has to tolerate in order to be happy. It’s very wrong for a man to divorce his wife because she doesn’t know how to cook. Nobody used cooking as a criterion for choosing a spouse in the Bible. In fact, when Isaac married Rebekah, he didn’t meet her, it was his servant that proposed marriage to Rebekah on behalf of Isaac and paid the bride price even before Isaac set his eyes on Rebekah. So in Christianity, we don’t use cooking as a criterion for choosing a spouse.
It’s also important you note that praying for an hour must not be used as a criterion for choosing a spouse. There is no scripture that says Christians must pray for an hour before they become good Christians. What Jesus Christ asked his disciples was: why couldn’t they watch with Him for an hour. Watching is different from praying. And when they failed to watch with him for an hour, they didn’t cease to be Christians. Even Peter, who couldn’t watch for an hour became the head of the disciples. If Peter couldn’t watch for an hour and still became the head of the disciples, why should we use praying for an hour as a criterion for choosing a spouse?
Do you know that vain repletion is a sin in Christianity? Jesus Christ said that we should not speak much in prayer. In Matthew 6:7-8, the Bible says that speaking much in prayer is a sin. If you need something, you should ask your Father what you need. Just go straight to the point – the Bible says that He already knows what you need, even before you ask Him. So, if you are not yet married and you are a man, never you use cooking as a criterion for choosing your spouse. It’s very wrong. God will not be happy with you if you do something like that.
I am speaking to you as the apostle of marriage that God has sent to correct the wrong doctrines of marriage in the world. Get married, not because a woman knows how to cook, but because she is a good woman. If you marry someone that knows how to cook and she is not good, what happens to you? Man shall not live by bread alone.
If you are a married man under the sound of my voice, never you divorce your wife because she doesn’t know how to cook. You can teach her how to cook or you tolerate her. Marriage is about tolerance. And as a husband, it’s important you note that it’s your responsibility to nourish your wife, tolerate her, forgive her, and take good care of her. It’s a job you have to do.
God bless you. I love you! Don’t forget: marriage is beyond cooking; marriage is beyond praying for an hour. Marriage is an old fashioned institution. It’s the oldest institution and must be honored.
Chris Ojigbani is the founder and senior pastor of a marriage and evangelical ministry, Covenant Singles and Married Ministries. He can be reached on Facebook and his official website or by email HERE.
