Previously we considered the depths of frustration Abigail must have felt if she would publicly call her husband both a scoundrel and a fool. As a scoundrel, Nabal’s character was corrupt and worthless, literally, a “son of Belial.” As a fool, he possessed no godly wisdom, whether in business or at home. Abigail was certainly neither a scoundrel nor a fool, and this inequality in their relationship led only to strife.

We do not know anything about Abigail’s early days of marriage. Perhaps Nabal was once a God-fearing man and only later became corrupt; or perhaps Abigail had only recently come to appreciate God’s wisdom and grace. In any case, the difficulties of their unequal relationship are plain, a warning to all who may be considering marriage to someone who does not share their spiritual foundation. It is not without cause that the New Testament warns us against being “unequally yoked together with unbelievers” (2 Cor. 6:14). The principle applies to more than marriage, but perhaps its bitterest fruits have been tasted in that relationship. Even the godliest marriages have their challenges—but if a Christian disobeys God’s clear warning and marries an unbeliever, it should not be a surprise if grief and distress are the result.

You may believe that your close friend, though an unbeliever, is at least nice enough to make a good marriage companion. In truth, however, if you marry the wrong person, you will feel lonelier in your marriage than you ever might have felt when you were single. Do not test the Lord by marrying out of His will and then expecting Him to save your spouse. Let the warning of Abigail’s struggle and sorrow be a guidepost as you trust the Lord for any and all of your relationships.