CRUCIALITY
Marriage (a covenant between a man and a woman) is the cradle of life. The definition must not be manipulated or redefined by a misguided sense of compassion and cannot be sealed on any relationship. Marriage is deeper than our contemporary culture guides us to believe. It is a lifelong commitment that restrains self-centeredness, ego that allows excess, and selfish gratification. By restraining egocentricity and promoting love for the other person, marriage becomes the foundation of the social order and the first institution that God formed.
Jesus said, “You have not read that in the beginning the Creator made you male and female. That is why a man will leave his father and his mother, and he will unite with his wife, and the two will become one body? So it’s not two anymore, it’s just one.” (Mat. 184-6) Marriage creates something new, just one body. Marriage is an emotional, physical and spiritual union between a man and a woman. Emotional, because two people, man and woman, each with their different attributes come together in life, each assisting the other, feeding and caring for the other. Marriage is physical because it is pro-creative, two separate biological beings come together to create something that neither can create in himself, children. Also, together they were commanded by God to be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Ecclesiastes 4: 9 says “Two are worth more than one, because they get more fruit from their effort.” Marriage is the best synergy God has ever made. Synergy exists when two or more people work together to produce more results than if they worked separately. Marriage is spiritual because it is a companionship that puts the other’s interests above its own, a relationship that ultimately reflects the unity of God.
According to God’s plan, there are three steps to marriage. First leave your parents; In other words, don’t be dependent on them and make your own home. The second step is to join, that means to weave or unite their lives together through a pact. The third step is to become just a body. That means sharing everything, including their bodies. Sadly, many skip to the third step bypassing the first two. If you want to have a God-blessed marriage, you need to go through the three steps in order.
Marriage provides Meaning
Men and women are made in the image of God. Together, as husband and wife, they reflect the nature of God. If there is no other reason to love your spouse, this is one reason. Christians believe that God is three persons united in one. This is how marriages are, when they come together, they reflect the unity of God. (John 17: 20-21). Also the Apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 5:25 that husbands should love “their wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” That is the deep mystery, how two can be one (Ephesians 5:32). The love of a husband should reflect the love that Christ has for his church. He shows his love for his willingness to sacrifice anything for his needs. He he must love him as he loves himself, feeding and caring for him as Christ does the church. The two must submit to each other as the Son, Jesus, submitted to his Father. When a couple commits themselves to the act of marriage, they reflect God. When humanity sees a couple following God’s example, they can see God’s reflection. That is our purpose.
g In what ways can your marriage speak of God to the world?
g In your opinion, what does it mean to be one flesh?
Marriage provides Security
The Bible says that it is not good for man to be alone. Since there are relationships between the Father, the Son, and the Spirit, we too were made to live in relationships. Isolation destroys lives. That is why God designed marriage so that we are in communion. God made marriage to complement each other, knowing that both men and women have different strengths and weaknesses. Every couple has irreconcilable differences before, during, and after the wedding. But these differences were designed to bring us together.
Marriage provides men and women the opportunity to experience deep levels of intimacy, companionship, security, and mutual support. Sex was created to be enjoyed and celebrated within the safe sanctuary of marriage.
g How is marriage different from those who are not married or cohabiting?
g What part of the marriage are they looking forward to?
Marriage provides a better Society
God designed marriage as the first social institution. Four decades of social science research shows that children are more likely to flourish emotionally, academically, physically, spiritually, and socially when raised with married mothers and fathers. Since mothers and fathers bring different perspectives, children receive a complete understanding of the worldview. The Bible says Didn’t the Lord make one being, which is body and spirit? And why is it only one? Because he seeks offspring given by God. So take care of yourselves in your own spirit, and do not betray the wife of your youth ”(Malachi 2:15). A good marriage influences more than your own children. A good marriage produces a stable society with less poverty.
g Assuming you are going to have children, what kind of family life do you want for your grandchildren and great-grandchildren? How can your marriage affect future generations?
g How can a good or bad marriage affect society?
