Many people enter marriage lightly. They have various motivations, such as: it is convenient, they are tired of being alone, they want companionship, it is that time in their life for this next step, they want someone to complete them, they need someone to cook and clean for them, they know the person will say “Yes,” they are tired of their parent harping about grandchildren, the person they are dating is beautiful/handsome/desirable, or they make sense and look good “on paper,” etc.
There is little concept of long-term commitment, cherishing the individual they propose to, realizing they do not want to live without the other person, having shared interests and goals and ideology about life, feelings of passion and compassion for their fiancé, delighting when the person walks into the room, missing them when they are apart, etc.
God created marriage to be honored (Hebrews 13:4) between two people who reject any option of future divorce, believe it is a permanent arrangement through thick and thin, look forward to growing old together, value the institution of marriage, love one another more than they love themselves and loving God more than they love their intended, plan to invest time and emotion in their relationship, look forward to facing challenges in life together, plan to put effort into uniting together as “one flesh”, etc.
There are a few key concepts discovered in long-term relationships that enable a couple to endure through a lifetime of challenges to their relationship. Foremost is the belief that God founded marriage as a symbol of His relationship to His future bride (Ephesians 2:20). The couple actively pursue intimacy with God, as well as with each other.
They seek God’s will for their life together, never insisting on their own way, but finding God’s plans for them through prayer and waiting on the direction of the Holy Spirit. If they do not feel the peace of God in any decision, they wait on the Lord and pray together about the decision until God reveals to them a choice that is bathed in His peace.
Prayer:
Father God, remind us as couples to continue to grow in our intimacy with You and with one another. Help us to respect and to value the input from our mate as an individual who matters. Teach us to cherish our mate’s strengths and to pray for each other’s weaknesses. Help us to always see our mate as our greatest treasure on this earth. Prompt us to show gratitude and to withhold criticism of one another (Philippians 2:3).
We want to value each other’s place in our life, to enjoy each other’s company, to support each other’s vocation and ministry, and to compliment one another’s strong points and talents. Help us to appreciate our family unit and to share the demands of parenthood, household chores, and to guard our times of individual relaxation as well as couple and family times.
Thought for the Day:
Marriage is not a requirement for everyone, because God calls some people to remain single in order to have more time in God’s service; however, those who feel led to marry open a door for an entire lifetime of service to those in their immediate and extended family.
- 1 Corinthians 7:9
