Marriage

Marriage - the meaning, interpretation, and sanctity - is often questioned today.  The Bible was written somewhere between 1450 BC and 95 AD and records the first marriage in Genesis 2:23-24: 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.  That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh." (NIV)  In chapter 3 and verse 17, Adam refers to Eve as his wife.

Adam and Eve were married in spite of no ceremony.  They were married, but not in the sense that people are legally married today with elaborate ceremonies or in front of judges.  Marriage was ordained by God as a sacramental union. Jesus sanctified marriage by His presence at the wedding in Cana. (John 2:1-11)  Marriage was God's idea, instituted by the Creator.  The heart of God's design for marriage was companionship and intimacy. 

Marriage is taken much too lightly today.  The divorce rate speak highly of this.  You can expect 41-43% of all marriages to end in divorce.  Whether its the excitement, the intimacy, the morality or experience, everyone is eager to rush to the altar.  1 Corinthians 7:1-2 says, "...It is good for a man not to marry.  But since there is so much immorality, each man should have is own wife, and each woman her own husband," (NIV)  For those in a bitter marriage, they would probably agree, it is better not to marry.  This verse refers to immorality in sexual relations.  It is stating that is better to marry than to become sexually immoral.

I was surprised by this statistic, but found it praise-worthy.  The secular world's divorce rate is 41-43%.  A study reveals that Christians who regularly attend church had a divorce rate 35% lower than the secular rate.  Wow!  The author of this study stated, "Religious commitment, rather than mere religious affiliation contributes to greater levels of moral success."

What does the Bible say about marriage exactly?  Well first off, its designed for one man and one woman. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10: "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.  

Many polygamist will argue that in the Old Testament it taught and often spoke about multiple wives.  And that's true.  However, 1 Corinthians 7:1-2 says, "Now concerning the things that you  wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband" (KJV)  I have seen people use this verse and even argue that Paul is only stating that if one lusts after another woman, then he should marry her, even if he, himself, is married to another woman.  I totally disagree with that argument.  You cannot take a verse from the Bible and make it mean what you want it to.  Mark 10:6-8 states: 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 they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate. (NIV, emphasis mine)

Ephesians 5:23-32: For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of his body, the church; He gave His life to be her Savior.  As the church submits to Christ, so you wives must submit to your husbands in everything.  Husbands are to love and sacrifice for his wife.  Wives are to submit to their husband.  The husband is a leader.  Think of him as the Speaker of the House.  The Bible teaches in 1 Peter 3:1-5, 7 that husbands and wives are equal partners.  Wives are to demonstrate godly character and quiet inner beauty.  Husbands are to honor their wives and be kind and gentle.  But above all, they are equal partners.  The wife is a helpmate for the husband.

Through marriage we can learn about unconditional love, respectful honor, how to forgive and how to be forgiven.  We can develop a servant's heart (which is very important in the life of a Christian), and we can draw closer to God.  I believe marriage is one of God's ultimate desires and purposes for designing the covenant of marriage. Through marriage, if treated correctly, true happiness can be found.