Who was Cain’s wife? After Adam and Eve were driven out of the Garden of Eden, they had their first child — a son, named Cain. Later, Cain married. Where did he get his wife?

I have heard that question discussed many times and I am asked about it frequently. Well, there are different opinions, the most sensible one being that Adam and Eve had other children and Cain married a sister.

But, really the whole question is nothing on which to spend much time. In 1 Timothy 1, Paul taught us not to spend time on vain discussion which really promotes controversy rather than God’s work.

Some things are interesting to discuss, but useless in providing help in living the Christian life. Friend, spend your Bible study time on those things which help you live better.

Everywhere you look these days, people are exercising, and they are buying all kinds of gadgets to get their bodies in good physical condition. The doctor’s offices are filled with people trying to get their sick and injured bodies back into good shape.

Someone has said when people get as concerned about their souls as they are about their bodies, the church buildings will be as full as the doctor’s offices.

Have you ever considered what you are really supposed to do with your physical body? The Bible says physical (or bodily) exercise does profit us — a little — but it also teaches us that spiritual condition is more important than physical condition.

The Bible says in Romans 12:1-2 we are to present our bodies a living sacrifice unto God, and that means we are supposed to do with our bodies what God wants us to do.

Fornication is about as common today as drinking water. The “living together” arrangement is very popular. People speak about having “affairs” much in the same way they talk about having a vacation.

There is a real sexual revolution in our country. Venereal disease is at epidemic proportions. Nation-wide, more than one million reported abortions occur each year. The rate of illegitimacy is staggering.

Man has changed his mind about a lot of things in recent years and we have accepted many things as all right that are not all right. Fornication is one of those things.

Call it “fornication,” “shacking up,” a “meaningful relationship,” or “making love” — if you have sexual relations with someone to whom you are not married, it is sinful and condemns you before God. The Bible says fornicators shall not go to heaven!

Heb 13:4 says, “Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.”

A mother once asked, “Should I make my son go to church?” My answer, “Yes, absolutely.” Let me explain. What do you say when your son decides that he does not want to go to school? What did you do when he was little and did not want to take a bath? How did you react when he was sick and did not want his medicine?

Every right-thinking parent recognizes the importance of these matters and gives the child no opportunity to decide for himself. Instead, parents explain the importance of going to school, taking baths, or taking medicine when sick.

So, mom and dad, take time to explain the importance of going to church; then simply say to your son or daughter; “In our family we all go to church and that includes you.”

“Train up a child in the way he should go…” (Prov. 22:6).

What is the most important thing in your life? Really! Is it your music? Maybe it is your job? Could it be your family? If I were to ask you to write down the most important thing in your life, what would it be? Have you ever thought about it?

Here is a fact: Happiness—real happiness—the kind of happiness that makes you look forward to the next day is directly related to the thing that is most important in your life. That’s right. So, maybe the reason many are not happy is that they don’t have their priorities worked out.

But, when you know that each day you are active in achieving the most important thing of life, then you like yourself and you are happy.

In setting your priorities, remember that Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God…” (Matt. 6:33). God demands and deserves first place in your life.

What if I was to suggest to you that you join as many churches as you can? After all, where did man get this idea of joining just one church?

We do not practice this in other areas of life. Many of us buy our life insurance, health insurance, homeowners insurance, and auto insurance from different companies because one will offer better services and better rates than another will. Many people will join more than one civic club because of the various benefits they find to each. So why join just one church?

The fact is the Bible says Jesus Christ adds men to the church who have been saved (Acts 2:47). You and I have no business “joining” churches. The Bible does not command it.

That is not to say that church membership is not important. It is! Jesus gave Himself for the church (Ephesians 5:25). He will deliver the church to His Father in the end (1 Corinthians 15:24).

As a father, I have often wished I could take my children somewhere and completely shield them from all of the evil and temptations of this world. Yet, I know that such is not only impossible; it would not be the best for my daughters. What then, should I do?

The answer comes from the Bible. In 2 Timothy the apostle Paul warned the young man, Timothy, that evil men would go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But, Paul told Timothy to simply continue in the Holy Scriptures that he had learned in childhood from his grandmother and mother.

There is the answer for parents. The best thing we can do to save our children and protect them from evil is to fill their hearts with the word of God.

Ephesians 6:4 says, “bring your children up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” In other words, Christian education begins at home.

A new husband watched his bride prepare a ham for the oven. He noticed she cut off a few inches of the end. When asked why, she replied that the only reason she could give was her mother had always done it that way. They called her mother who admitted she always cut off a few inches, because “my mother did it that way.” Finally, they consulted grandma who said, “Oh, I always did that because my pan was too small.”

This illustrates we may follow customs without even considering if we are doing the right thing.

Even in religion, some follow family customs and traditions without real personal convictions. Many have inherited their religion from their family instead of basing their faith upon the Word of God.

Romans 14:12 says, “So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.”

The Indians used to give their children names that they earned. A girl would become “Timid One,” or “Laughing Water.” A boy might earn the name “Brave Warrior,” or “Running Feet.”

Suppose people gave us the names we earn. Some of us would be “Helping Hand,” “Generous Heart” or “Peacemaker.” But on the other hand, many would have names such as “Shirker,” “Stingy,” or “Evil Tongue.”

If people named you according to your life, what would be your name? Paul said in Galatians 5 that our actions indicate our real character. Some things indicate we are led by the Spirit of God while other actions show we are following the flesh.

James speaks of that “worthy name by which you are called” — meaning the name “Christian.” What about you? When people observe your life, would they see in you the qualities of a Christian?

If you had something very valuable and you found out you were the only one in the world who had it, what would you do?

Well, what if you found out you had the only Bible in the world, what would you do with it? Would you toss it about carelessly, or lay it on the shelf to collect dust?

Of course, you do not have the only Bible. There are millions sold each year, and most homes have more than half a dozen copies.

Why do we take the Bible so lightly? Why do we not recognize it as a letter from our Creator and ruler?

Friend, treasure the Bible and study it daily. “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).