Our Family emphasis month began this past Sunday (Feb 2). Each Sunday we will discover what the Bible says about marriage. This is certainly a relevant topic as there is much discussion, debate, and disagreement about marriage, what it means and how it is understood. Thankfully we have a reliable source of information on marriage... the Bible.
First we should understand that marriage was DESIGNED by God. It is not some invention of man, it is more than a piece of paper, and its meaning is not as vague as many would have you to believe. Genesis 2:18-25 takes us back to the inception of marriage where we discover it was clearly designed by God. I find it very interesting that God pronounced all of creation to be "good" but in Genesis 2:18 we read "It is not good that man should be alone;" Surrounded by the beauty of Eden and the vastness of the animal kingdom, man was still lacking; he needed a helper, one designed to complete him. So God created Eve, a woman, one woman, not two or three or four,... just one. One man and one woman brought together by God to enjoy a "one flesh" relationship. Now all was GOOD! Of course, things changed when man willfully sinned against God. While Adam's sin affected every relationship man had (with God, with the animal kingdom, with the earth, and with his wife) it did not change the fact that marriage was designed by God for the good of men and women.
Marriage is also significant not only because of its designer but also because of what it is intended to DISPLAY. Marriage between a man and a woman clearly shows us the GOODNESS of God. He was certainly good in creating for Adam the one being with whom he could have a one flesh relationship. No wonder the writer of the Proverbs penned the words, "He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord." (Prov. 18:22). Marriage can remind us that God is good.
We also see a picture of the GOSPEL displayed through the marriage relationship. A Husband's love for his wife is to reflect Christ's love for the Church (Eph. 5:25-32). The sacrificial love of the husband for his wife can help others to catch a glimpse of what Christ's love for the Church must be like.
The GLORY of God can also be seen through the marriage relationship. It seems to me, according to Scripture, that every marriage should point us to a coming marriage; the uniting of Christ and His Church. United with Christ for all eternity, that is GLORY and that is what a designer marriage can remind us of.
Finally, marriage is a wonderful design because God can work through it to accomplish our own growth and DEVELOPMENT. The CLOSENESS of the husband and wife relationship is one unlike any other. In such a close relationship, each spouse can be an instrument of God in the sanctification process of the other. Marriage also offers a COMPANIONSHIP like no other relationship. My mate sees me like no one else sees me. She knows me like no one else knows me. She understands me like no one else understands me. She loves me like no one else loves me. She thinks of me like no one else thinks of me. Our companionship means she can speak into my life like no one else can speak to me. Her words can hurt or help or heal like no one else because of our closeness and companionship. And God in His grace continues to bring a man and a woman together to COMPLETE each other.
Each husband and wife can have a Designer Marriage. This is possible if they follow the plan of the DESIGNER, allow the relationship to DISPLAY what God has planned for it to display, and submit to the DEVELOPMENT of their lives and relationship by listening to and learning from each other.
Let's pray that God would allow each of us to enjoy a DESIGNER MARRIAGE as planned by Him.
Pastor Mike
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