|
What is a Christian Marriage
Christian marriage is a mutual agreement
between two individuals which is
solemnized by a Minister of God in the
presence of witnesses where the couple
make vows that they agree to live
together as husband and wife and share
in their belongings and love , comfort
and be together in sickness and in
health till death do them part.
The first Marriage
The first marriage was instituted by God
in the garden of Eden. This is how it
became real. After creating the man God
found something
Genesis 2:18
And the LORD God said, It is not good
that the man should be alone; I will
make him an help meet for him. He found
that man required an help meet and
therefore he created woman
How did God create the woman?
Genesis 2:21
And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to
fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he
took one of his ribs, and closed up the
flesh instead thereof;
Genesis 2:22
And the rib, which the LORD God had
taken from man, made he a woman, and
brought her unto the man.
-
Thus woman was created from a part
which was taken from the first man.
-
This woman was created by God from
man
-
This woman was created for this man
God brought her directly to the man. He
did not use an intermediary to bring her
to the man and thus the first marriage
in the history of mankind come into
existence solemnized by God Almighty
What does the Bible say about Marriage?
To understand about marriage it would be
appropriate to study the words of Jesus
which he taught about marriage.
Mark 10: 6
But from the beginning of the creation
God made them male and female.
Mark 10: 7
For this cause shall a man leave his
father and mother, and cleave to his
wife;
Mark 10: 8
And they twain shall be one flesh: so
then they are no more twain, but one
flesh.
Mark 10: 9
What therefore God hath joined
together, let not man put asunder
When we observe Mark 10:7 the words "for
this cause" clearly indicates the reason
why God created male and female. ( so
that "they may be man and wife"). God
does not view the husband and wife as
two separate individuals but as one
flesh. The words in Mark 2:9 – What God
hath joined together clearly indicate
that though the husband and wife are
united in holy matrimony by the minister
of God, yet God says I have joined them
together. Here there is a warning to
others " No human should separate what
God has joined together".
So we find that marriage is nothing but
God joining two individuals ( a male and
a female together )
But though God has joined a man and a
woman in marriage , yet the man and the
woman should clearly realize that there
is an enemy of God known as Satan who is
always working to nullify the plans and
desires of God. His primary aim is to
create a rift between the two who God
has joined and ensure that the marital
peace and unison which is very essential
for a successful Christian marriage is
spoiled.
With this plan in mind he is always
trying to devise ways and means by which
he can get his objective accomplished.
This should always be in the mind of the
two who have been united by God in
marriage
Keys to a Successful Marital Life
Allow the Lord to build your house
We should clearly understand that unless
the Lord builds a house ( family)
whatever man does to make it successful
will be in vain
Observe Psalms 127:1
Except the LORD build the house, they
labour in vain that build it: If the
Lord has to build a house then it is
very essential that the couple know
about the words of the Lord and obey
him. Unless we know and obey it is
difficult for God to get involved in our
lives and make it successful though he
wishes to do it. One of the key
principles towards making God interfere
in our lives is to fear the Lord. There
is a very clear relationship between
fearing the Lord and a successful
marriage.
Psalms 128:4
Very clearly points out that the man who
fears the Lord shall be blessed as
under:
Plan of God for the family
Psalms 128:1-4
Very clearly reveals about the plan of
God for the family Blessed is every one
that feareth the LORD; that walketh in
his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour
of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and
it shall be well with thee. Thy wife
shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides
of thine house: thy children like olive
plants round about thy table. Behold,
that thus shall the man be blessed that
feareth the LORD. God’s plan for the
family is that the head of the family
should be happy.
Psalms 128:2
Happy shalt thou be . You can see it in
his face. A satisfaction will be found
in his face. What is the reason? It is a
result of the blessing of the Lord as
promised in his word
Psalms 128:4
Behold, that thus shall the man be
blessed that feareth the LORD.
Psalms 128:5
The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion:
and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem
all the days of thy life
How does the Lord make him happy?
He shall eat the labour of his hands (
It means that someone else will not eat
that which he has laboured for) . Today
we find that many individuals like
doctors, hospitals, garages , deceivers
are eating the money which you have got
through work of your hands. It means
that you will not be unnecessarily
spending your hard earned money on
repairs, medical bills and tablets,
being deceived by others etc. It shall
be well with him. Isn’t it exciting
something which everyone desires and
wants is promised to him by God
Almighty. Well refers to all round well
being ( spiritual, physical and material
well being).
How will his wife be?
Like a fruitful vine by the side of his
house. In other words she will be a
great blessing for the family.
How will the children be?
Like olive plants round about his table.
Wherever the bible talks about olive
plants it refers to being a blessing. We
have to clearly understand that these
are all promises of God to those who
fear him and walk in all his ways.
Remember that all of God’s promises are
conditional and are based on
understanding God’s word and obeying
them.
Suggestions for a Successful Marital
Life
Remember successful marriages are
based on understanding the following.
Husband and wife both come from
different backgrounds, each with his or
her own unique personalities. Any
successful marriage is based on a proper
understanding of this fact by the
married couple and striving to adjust
with one another. Adjustment is based on
a give and take relationship. If couples
don’t understand this fact there is
definitely going to be a strain in the
relationship.
1) In a marriage, what we say to our
spouse is important. The wrong words
uttered can rip a husband's ego to
shreds. wrong words can send a wife's
self esteem plummeting. Words determine
how marital life is going to be. The
Bible says in Proverbs 10:11 The mouth
of a righteous man is a well of life:
Remember that the tongue is a dangerous
weapon and one should be careful of what
goes out of one’s tongue, not only when
he deals with others but also in his
dealings with one’s spouse.
This should always be kept in mind as
very often husbands and wives use words
out of anger or ignorance, with no
conscious or awareness of the
consequences that their words may have
on their spouse. It may just be a single
sentence that could stab like a knife
through the heart or it could take the
form of few words, words of relentless
torture, that little by little, tear
down the delicately woven fabric which
is love.
2) Start changing your vocabulary. Speak
words as given below goes a long way to
maintaining marital harmony and good
relationship.
-
I love you
-
I appreciate your cooking or the
work done
-
I have faith in you
-
You are a wonderful person
-
Would you please help me with this?
-
You look wonderful, beautiful (or
handsome)
-
I am thinking of you
-
I can't wait to see you
-
Can I help you?
-
You mean everything to me
-
You are so strong (to the husband)
-
I am so lucky to have you in my life
-
I am proud of you!
-
I respect you
-
I am here for you
-
You mean the world to me
-
Thank you
Never demand. Give compliments. Share
your feelings. You may be thinking that
she knows that you love her. You make be
thinking he knows that you appreciate
him, but often they don't. They need to
hear it. Use "I" instead of "You" to
start your sentences, so not to put your
spouse on the defensive. But remember
whatever may be the vocabulary used,
unless God is involved in a marriage it
cannot be a successful one. This is one
point which should never be forgotten
and should always be kept in mind.
What does the Bible say about Husband
and Wife?
About Husbands - What did God say?
Ephesians 5:23
The husband is the head of the wife.
This does not mean that the husband can
act as he likes. The same bible reveals
Colossians 3:19
Husbands, love your wives, and be not
bitter against them.
1 Peter 3:7
Ye husbands, dwell with them according
to knowledge, giving honour unto the
wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as
being heirs together of the grace of
life; that your prayers be not hindered.
Every man should understand that he is
head of the wife in the same way as even
as Christ is the head of the church.
What type of head is Christ?
Is he like a dictator with no feelings
for the church. Is he selfish and
concerned only about himself.
Ephesians 5:25 - Christ loved the
church, and gave himself for it
That’s why the Bible says in Ephesians
5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as
Christ also loved the church, and gave
himself for it
About Wives - What did God say?
Genesis 3:16
Unto the woman he said, ... and thy
desire shall be to thy husband, and he
shall rule over thee.
Titus 2:4-5
What does Paul say about wives?
That they may teach the young women to
be sober, to love their husbands, to
love their children, To be discreet,
chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient
to their own husbands, that the word of
God be not blasphemed.
-
young women to be sober ( steady
mind)
-
to love their husbands
-
to love their children
-
To be discreet ( Strongs concordance
transalates the greek for discreet
as self controlled and temperate)
-
chaste ( clean and pure)
-
keepers at home( a good homemaker)
-
good
-
obedient to their own husbands
Why should they live as above?
So that the word of God be not
blasphemed or talked of lowly or
insultingly. Remember the behaviour of
the wives is responsible for the word of
God being blasphemed.
Finally in closing let us study the
advice of Paul in
1 Corinthians 7:3
Let the husband render unto the wife due
benevolence: and likewise also the wife
unto the husband.
Final word of Advice
Husband and wife relationships are like
a balance. When the husband treats the
wife with love and respect while
providing for her needs, it causes the
wife to want to be submissive, obedient
and loving in return. This causes the
husband to be more what God would have
him to be toward his wife, which causes
her to be what she should be toward him,
etc. Conversely, if the husband does not
provide for the wife, she is tempted to
respond in kind, thus turning the scales
of the balance one way.
God intended for marriage to be the
union of two people into one. Are you
and your spouse on the same team?
What does the Bible say on Adultery?
Mark 10:12
And if a woman shall put away her
husband, and be married to another, she
committeth adultery.
Luke 16:18
Whosoever putteth away his wife, and
marrieth another, committeth adultery:
and whosoever marrieth her that is put
away from her husband committeth
adultery.
Romans 7:3
So then if, while her husband liveth,
she be married to another man, she shall
be called an adulteress: but if her
husband be dead, she is free from that
law; so that she is no adulteress,
though she be married to another man.
The words of Jesus on adultery is very
clear. If you put away your wife and
marry another then you are committing
adultery. Similarly if a woman put away
her husband and marry another she
committeth adultery. Paul in Romans 7:3
also very clearly substantiates the
statement.
God hates adultery. Paul very clearly
reveals in 1 Corinthians 6:9 – that not
only the unrighteous shall inherit the
kingdom of God but also adulterers will
not inherit the kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 6:9
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall
not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not
deceived: neither fornicators, nor
idolaters, nor adulterers, nor
effeminate, nor abusers of themselves
with mankind,
In Malachi God very clearly reveals:
Malachi 2:15 -(GW)
Didn't God make you one? Your flesh and
spirit belong to him. And what does the
same God look for but godly descendants?
So be careful not to be unfaithful to
the wife of your youth.
What does the Bible say about Divorce?
Matthew 19:6
God is very clear about marriage What
God has joined together let no man put
asunder. Here God is talking about
divorce where the man and woman are
separated. Jesus also reveals as to why
Moses allowed divorce
Matthew 19:8
He saith unto them, Moses because of the
hardness of your hearts suffered you to
put away your wives: but from the
beginning it was not so.
Hence it is very clear that divorce is
not in God’s plan and those who want to
enjoy God’s fullness try to restore
relationships instead of taking the easy
way of separation
If you have been Blessed or would like
to know more about this Article,
Please write to
-
.
|
