Marriage is for those who love God and each other . We are all familiar with varying “statistics” regarding marriage & divorce rates. However, I love to talk with couples who have been married for 40, 50, and 60 plus years. I marvel at the longevity of their relationships. I have learned from listening to the “stories” of these couples. One variable that is always present in their happiness is their love for God. The world in which we live has created a multitude of man-made formulas for marriage. More often than not, these marriages fail because they are founded on man’s ideas and not God’s!
Marriage is a divine institution. Matthew 19:4-6 makes it plain marriage was in the plan from the beginning, “And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh? So then, they are no long- er two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together let not man separate.”
Marriage is a supreme relationship. The relation- ship we have with our spouse takes precedence over ALL other human relationships. Ephesians 5:22-23 says, “Wives submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.” Ephesians 5:25 also says, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also love the church and gave Himself for her.”
Marriage is for life. Matthew 19:3-9 illustrates and teaches the commitment to marriage is until death. There are only two circumstances that gives anyone the right to marry a second time: 1) Death of their first companion; and 2) Sin of fornication by their companion. Unfortunately, man’s laws are now written so that marriages can be dissolved over most anything. God has a purpose for marriage (Genesis 2:18-25). Our marriage should have the purpose of loving God and each other, forever!
