Marriage
I'm not married, but lately the Lord has been opening my heart to what marriage is suppose to be. It may be so that I can understand that what marriage is today is not what He created it to be. Today there are many in American who use marriage as a fashion accessory.
Marriage is not just about man and woman getting falling in love and wanting to have a permanent relationship. You see, marriage was created by God and He created it to be a covenant between the man, woman and Him. Like any relationship with Him, He wants to be included in everything about the marriage. From the decisions being made to the marriage bed, He wants to be included. He wants His word to be a guide to the couple.
The next bit is something that isn't dicussed in many churches today. See, when people take the covenant of marriage (that again, He created) and perverse it for man's will, it saddens Him. Every church will speak of the anger and judgement of God, but so few every mention what breaks His heart. See as a society we have taught people that it is okay to spend thousands, even millions, on the wedding. Today's society, or better still today's church, has failed to teach about spending our time and resources to make the marriage work. Today, if you think you love someone, you get married, try it out for a while, then decide it isn't for you and end it. The reason for this? In just about all of marriages in American today, the bride and groom never invite God into the relationship.
Think about it. If you love your child with all your heart and aren't invite to the wedding you would be completely heart broken. Not inviting God into the marriage does the same thing to Him. How many christian married couples today are teaching their children that God doesn't belong in marriage? Are you teaching your children this?
If you want your marriage to succeed, just go to the word. Here is one example of how to be in the marriage. Ephesians 5:22-24 says "Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything." Ephesians 5:25-27 gives the instruction "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish." If things aren't going well in the marriage, just give this a try, wives stop fighting for control that isn't yours. The man is to be head and you are in a war with him about how do things, he cannot be an effective husband. Husbands, love your wives as Jesus loves the church. You married her for a reason. Look back at what made you love her in the first place. If you start loving as Jesus does, you will get results.
A friend once summed it up perfectly. Men, if you want to be treated like a king, then treat her like a queen. Women, if you want to be treated like a queen, then treat him like a king. It truly is as simple as that. If you want you marriages to be changed for the better, then the change starts with you.
Marriage isn't easy to begin with as you are trying to learn how to become one. When we come into it expecting to get everything we want and to control everything ourselves, it makes everything harder and more stressful. Remember to include God and follow His Word and it will become easier and you will learn to tackle life together.
Remember this isn't coming from me, this is what God says in His Word. Sometimes we each need to be reminded to consider God and let Him have a say in how we conduct our lifes, married or not.
