Marriage is
one of the most important relationships in life as evidenced by the fact that
God himself established the home (Gen. 2).
Marriage, however, is not a requirement of redemption. One can be unmarried or married and still be
saved eternally. However, if one chooses
to marry, there are certain qualities that will enrich the relationship.
In marriage,
the husband and wife BELONG TO ONE ANOTHER. When two people marry, all flirtations with
others should cease because they have made a commitment to each other to be
faithful (1 Cor. 7:4-5; Heb. 13:4). This
commitment goes beyond the physical relationship and involves a mutual sharing
of joys and sorrows (Rom. 12:15). Even
possessions are not a “his and hers”
proposition, but of joint ownership.
The husband and
wife should truly LOVE ONE ANOTHER. Paul
compared it to the love that Christ had for the church when he died for it
(Eph. 5:25). It is a love that is
ignited, fueled, and fanned by one’s will (1 Cor. 13:4-7). It motivates a person to go to a concert or
on a shopping spree with their mate, when they would rather be doing something
else. It endures when the excitement of
romantic love fades and the responsibilities of family life become mere duty. One young man, whose parents frequently moved
due to job responsibilities, remarked to his schoolmates, “We have a home; we just don’t have a house to put it in.” More than likely, genuine love can be found
in that home.
Marriage
partners need to learn to BE CONTENT WITH ONE ANOTHER. Contentment is a learned attitude, according
to Paul (Phil. 4:11). Husbands should be
content with the role God has assigned them.
They are to be the breadwinners for the family (1 Tim. 5:8). God has appointed them as the head of the
home (Eph. 5:23). The husband and father
should be the spiritual guide for the entire family (1 Pet. 3:7; Eph.
6:4). Likewise, wives should be content
with the role God has given them. Theirs
is not an inferior, but a supportive, role (Eph. 5:22, 24; 1 Pet. 3:1-4). As such, they wield tremendous
influence. It is through their mothers
that men receive the ideals of the past.
It is through their wives that men receive inspiration for the present. It is through their daughters that men
receive hope for the future. A woman has
the unique knack of making the most humble shack a beautiful home. She can make the most common food a sumptuous
feast. She can turn the cloudiest day
into a beautiful sunset. Contentment is
invaluable to the joy experienced in marriage.
The husband
and wife should BE OF SPIRITUAL HELP TO ONE ANOTHER. Marrying a Christian is important in being
able to accomplish this. Helping one
another spiritually along the road to heaven ought to be the goal of every
marriage (1 Cor. 7:16). The plot of
Ananias and Sapphira might have had a different ending if they had been more
concerned about helping one another please God instead of trying to impress men
(Acts 5:1-10). Instead they were in
collusion in their attempted deception.
There is no more beautiful picture than seeing husband and wife serving
Jesus together, worshipping together, and praying together. Are you a spiritual complement to your mate?
Husbands and
wives need to BE FORGIVING OF ONE ANOTHER.
Everyone has weaknesses and will make mistakes. That is only a part of being human. We have a choice in marriage. We can either magnify the weaknesses and
mistakes of our mate or we can be willing to forgive and overlook them. True love “…pays
no attention to a suffered wrong” (1 Cor. 13:5, Amp). It does not allow a mistake to become a
source of irritation that erodes the relationship between husband and
wife. Forgiveness lifts the burden of
guilt from the soul of the wrongdoer and takes bitterness from the heart of the
one who extends it.
