When Nick and I got married we had a Christian ceremony. This was very important to us as we are both Christians. We wanted to have a religious ceremony because we believe that our marriage is ordained by God and that our faith in Him is what will keep our marriage together, pure, strong, and loving.
"What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate." Matthew 19:6
"For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and the two shall be become one flesh. This mystery is great: but I am speaking concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless, let each individual among you also love his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see to it that she respect her husband." Ephesians 5:31-33
I take this Ephesians passage to heart. I try every day to show my respect and devotion to Nick. Nick does his best every day to show me that he loves me as much as he loves himself and I can only offer the same in return for him. Our marriage is based on compromises, respect, and understanding. It isn't always easy, but if you remember the commitment you made and the reason you opted to make it things always seem to work out.
Paul speaks a lot about marriage in the Bible. It was designed by and originated with the sanction of God. 1 Cor. 7:2 establishes that marriage is monogamous. God created for Adam what was needed for his marriage: one woman. Paul stated that each man was to have his own wife and each woman was to have her own husband. This monogamous relationship is not having one husband or one wife at a time. The principle of monogamy is one man for one woman for life.
So often Nick and I see people in our lives who cannot live in the state of monogamy God has designed. It breaks my heart every time to see our friends break apart because of lack of monogamy. I advise any individual who is debating marriage to ensure that they feel they are up to spending the rest of their life with one person and one person only. Marriage is designed to last forever (barring death). There is no easy out. Divorce in most circumstances is not something God had in mind. Obviously in situations of abuse, adultery, etc. you have to pray and He will help you come up with a solution. Marriage is forever. Forever.
"Marriage demands the giving of oneself to the other, and there can be no mutual benefit without mutual giving. A part of one's identity is surrendered for the larger identity. Marry to share the good and endure the bad with the one who love. Maybe it would be helpful to commit to memory a frequently used wedding vow." ~Ray Wilson http://www.bible.ca/ef/topical-what-the-bible-says-about-marriage.htm
For marriage to be the joyous relationship that God intended, the husband and wife must never take one another for granted. We must allow the light of love to endure within hearts that are open to a loving Father and His Son. Thoughtfulness, gratitude, and concern for one another must be ever present in a marriage. Perhaps the following practical rules for a happy married life will make marriage the life long union that God intended it to be (Eph. 5:22-33; 1 Peter 3:1-7).
So I guess my point is just...be sure. Pray. Make God a part of your marriage. Ensure that you are ready to take this step and that you can follow through with it. So far it is the biggest blessing I've received.
Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous;
love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly;
it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,
does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails...But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7,13
2 comments:
Great post. Loved your thoughts.
Thanks, Jenna! I'm not the world's best writer, but hopefully it made sense. Haha!
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