Is Marriage Important Today

Marriage is a touchy subject these days. Some people believe you have to give up your identity when you get married. Some see it as throwing away their freedom. Many people don’t see the need or importance of marriage.

Genesis 2:18-24 ~ The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Now the Lord God formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the the air. He brought them to man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was it’s name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, God took one of man’s ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman, for she was taken out of man.” For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife and they will become one flesh.

WOW! How much must God love His creation that He would create so many creatures so Adam wouldn’t be lonely and to then create one more, woman, as a helper. God wanted each of us to a life partner.

God created the perfect companion for Adam, Eve. He didn’t go to so much trouble and take such care to bring Adam and Eve together so Adam could decide he wanted a new woman a week later. Or for Eve to decide someone else was a better provider and leave Adam.

God designed man and woman to be with one partner for life. He meant for marriage to be a permanent commitment between a man and a woman. Marriage is meant to be two lives becoming one; two stories becoming one.

Mark 10:6-9 ~ But at the beginning of creation God made them male and female.  For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So there are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.

Have you noticed the decline in commitment between people today (especially our youth)? They have been raised in families of divorce many times, more than one. Often we see people going into marriage with the idea that if it doesn’t work out, they can just get a divorce. No big deal, right? My first question would be “Why are you thinking about divorce before you even get married?” Then I might ask “Why bother to marry if you already have an escape planned?”

* Matthew 5:31-32 ~ It has been said, “Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce. But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.

But God also knows that we are human and we tend to mess things up (BIG TIME). That is where His forgiveness comes into play.

Although divorce should never be an easy out, sometimes it happens. You can’t force the other person to be compatible with you. All marriages can be saved IF BOTH man and woman want to fix things. It isn’t easy and it takes a lot of hard work and dedication. Sometimes one or both man and woman aren’t up to the challenge. But if they are, there’s good news. God can fix anything.

* Hebrews 13:4 ~ Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.

I’ve hear many times that people should marry their own kind. This can mean a rich man should marry a rich woman. A black man should marry a black woman. A short man should marry a short woman. A fat man should marry a fat woman. This is not what the God meant in 2 Corinthians.

2 Corinthians 6:14-15 ~ Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does  a believer have in common with an unbeliever?

So how can we keep a marriage alive? Our grandparents were married for 50 years or more in most cases. What was their secret?

Putting aside the “divorce just isn’t done” way of thinking, they had to have something else that kept them happy for so many years. Jesus shared His thoughts on keeping any relationship working (friendship, marriage, or working).

* Ephesians 4:2-3 ~ Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

So where does this leave us? Where do we go from here with our thoughts on marriage? How do we honor our husband or wife? How do we honor God through our marriage?

* Colossians 3:18-19 ~ Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

MORE SCRIPTURE:

Proverbs 5

Proverbs 6:20-35

Proverbs 7

* Finding someone to spend the rest of your life with doesn’t have to be challenging. Pray about it. Relax. Allow God to bring you together with His match for you. When you find that someone special and you are ready to commit to, really commit. Not just “until someone better comes along”. Make that lifetime commitment. Go into with the thought that “this will be my husband/wife for life and I am committed to working hard to keep us strong.” Commit to keeping God in the center of your marriage and bring back the 50 years of marriage our grandparents celebrated. Your children and grandchildren will thank you.