Unthankful

Dr. Couch, it seems that Americans are too unthankful. Do you agree? ANSWER: Paul reminds Timothy that marriage and food is given to us by God, created by Him, therefore we should gratefully share our bounty, that is, we who are "those who believe and know the truth" (1 Tim. 4:3). "Men," refers to the world and the lost, and here in this verse, are those who forbid marriage. The Greek is stronger. "Forbid" is "kaluo" and means "to prevent, hinder, restrain, deny, clip, lop off." This is happening in America now. Over 50% of people are just living together without marriage. 50% of all children born in this country are from unwed couples. The results of this promiscuity, this sleeping around, is that 50% of young people have some form of venereal diseases. Many of these diseases are incurable. Paul adds that "everything created by God is good and nothing is to be rejected, if it is received with gratitude" (v. 4). Nicoll adds: "Paul does not merely desire to vindicate the use of some of God's creatures for them that believe, but the use of all of God's creatures, so far as they are not physically injurious. 'God saw every thing that He made, and behold, it was very good'" (Gen. 1:31). Thanks for asking. Dr. Mal Couch (11/10)