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MARRIAGE
Genesis 2:21 -25 Key verses 23,24
Marriage is one of the most challenging issues facing a generation of people worldwide, struggling to live up to its intentions and aspirations yet, gravely overtaken by spiritual impoverishment, moral depravity and false modernism. Marriage has caused untold hardships, irretrievable losses and irreparable damages to thousands of precious men and women as well as the youth the world over. However, marriage could be interesting and beautiful when approached and handled properly and with the right knowledge and understanding. (Scripture Reference: Genesis 2:21-25 Key verses: 21-25.)
DICTIONARY DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE
The union of a man and a woman as husband and wife, which becomes the foundation for a home and family.
MY DEFINITION
Marriage goes far beyond the ceremony, act or contract where a man and a woman are bound together. It is the joining together of the spirit, soul and body (man and woman are both tripartite) of a man to that of a woman that makes a meaningful, fulfilling healthy and lasting marriage.
MAN AND WOMAN ARE THE SAME
In Genesis 1:27, God created man "male and female." Although man was created in harmony with woman, they bear differences that are non - transferable. "It is these differences that attract one to the other. So these differences should form the basis of respect, recognition, honor and acceptance for one another."
These differences provide for, among other things, the procreation of human life and the orderliness of human existence. Husband and wife need one another to live a fulfilled life. One can have money and great success and yet might not be fulfilled.
ORIGIN OF MARRIAGE
Marriage was instituted by God when He declared, "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper, "comparable" to him Genesis 2:18. The word comparable means; Of the same or equivalent kind, able to be compared; similar enough to allow comparison. It also means similar, alike, related, akin, cognate, corresponding, analogous, equivalent, commensurate, parallel, equal.
So God fashioned woman and brought her to man. On seeing the woman, Adam exclaimed, "This is now bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh. She shall be called "woman" because she was taken out of man." Genesis 2:23. This passage also emphasizes the truth that, "A man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife and they shall become one flesh." Genesis 2:24." This indicates that God's "original ideal" is for a man to be the husband of one wife and for the marriage to be permanent.
WHY SHOULD WE MARRY?
Because God our creator instituted it in the beginning - Genesis 2:24
For company - Genesis 2:28
For love and comfort - Genesis 24:67 Proverbs 5:19 Ephesians 5:28
To bear children - Genesis 1:27-28 Psalm 127:3 Psalm 113:9
For spiritual and physical completeness - Genesis 23 and 24 Deuteronomy 24:5
To have and enjoy sexual intercourse - Genesis 1:28 2:25
To avoid fornication and sexual immorality - 1 Corinthians 7:2
God hates fornication 1 Corinthians 10:8
Marriage is honorable - Hebrews 13:4
To obtain favor of the Lord - Proverbs 18:22
God wants us to marry - Jeremiah 29:6
HUSBAND'S RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS WIFE
Love and protect her.
Sacrifice for her.
Listen to her concerns.
Take adequate care of her.
Be as sensitive to her needs and hurts as you are to your own body.
Live in patience, considerateness, understanding, togetherness and forgiveness with her.
Bring out the best in her and inspire her to excel in all that she does.
Treat her as your queen and first hand confidant.
Don't undermine her womanhood and never place any woman above her.
To be the head means you are the woman's source or her reason for
being, Genesis 2:21-24. In other words, give her hope for a meaningful
and accomplished life.
WIFE'S RELATIONSHIP WITH HER HUSBAND
Respect him.
Acknowledge his calling "as head of the family" - meaning he is your source and reason for being.
Let him be the man.
Never place any man above him.
Respond to his leadership.
Listen to him.
Praise him and see him as a champion and your king.
Be united in purpose and will with him.
Be a true faithful and selfless helper to him always Genesis 2:18.
Speak well about him in secret and in the open.
CONCLUSION
Two people could be physically united and yet might not be spiritually
united. This can bring about disaster. Marriage is a one - to - one
affair. It's a dual relationship. When the man falls, the woman has
fallen and when the woman falls the man has fallen.
Finally, the worth of a man is defined not by how much he acquires, but
by how much he gives away (liberally). The true greatness of a man is
found in his capacity to share himself without any thought of what he
will receive in return. Selfishness shrivels the soul and lessens its
capacity to demonstrate the true nature of God, which is love.
An individual may attain worldly acclaim, social standing and financial
prominence through honest means, but if his emotions, mind and will are
not submitted to the Holy Spirit, he risks being pulled away from the
wholeness of life and ultimately becoming a disastrous failure. These
are facts to be considered by both man and woman; husband and wife.
Before you marry or wed your bride/groom think of these leading questions and answer them consciously and honestly.
1. Why do you want to be married to each other?
2. What do such traditional phrases as "for richer or poorer," "in
sickness and in health," and "so long as we both shall live" mean to
you?
3. What do you think are some of the requirements for a stable marriage?
4. How do you know that you are really in love or meant to be married to one another?
5. How does each of you feel about having children? Do you have similar views on family planning?
6. What thought have you given to managing your finances together? Will
you share everything, or do you intend to have a prenuptial agreement?
7. How do you get along with your own and your partner's family?
8. Have you discussed with each other any health problems you may have?
9. Are there any physical aspects of the marriage relationship that you
need to talk about with a seasoned and knowledgeable Godly counselor?
10. Where will you live....... in a home of your own or one shared with others?
11. How do you plan to share your spiritual life?
God bless us all. Let's pray;
Father
God in heaven, God of creation, let this message repair marriages that
are on the brink of collapse. Enhance and appease those marriages that
seem to be sailing smoothly; educate and interest those that are yet to
marry. Finally, let it warn those who are handling their marriages
recklessly and without due affection.
Amen!
Bishop W. P. Morgan
Vision International Ministries
Los Angeles, CA USA
