I have just finished Pre-Marital counseling with a young couple and am praying for my youngest son as he and his fiancée go through their counseling as they prepare for marriage. I have had the honor of performing the ceremonies of over 300 marriages in my ministry, so this is not new to me. It is always a joy to take the couples through a required 5 or more hours of counseling in order to make sure they have thought through this Covenant commitment. The Bible, God’s Word, is very clear on the subject of Marriage as an institution. Again, we find the basis of marriage in the book of beginnings, Genesis 2:18, 24
18 The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone.
I will make a helper suitable for him."
24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother
and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
Marriage is a divine institution designed to form a permanent union between man and woman that they might be helpful to one another.
Jesus also emphasized this truth in His teaching in Matthew 19:4-6
4 "Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' 5 and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? 6 So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."
Again we see that the Bible is teaching that it is God that has joined Man and Woman
(“male and female”) together in Marriage. It is God who has ordained and set the standard for Marriage. It is the “Creator” God who has instituted this relationship and institution called Marriage. We can seek to redefine these Truths of Scripture, but there is no way we can deny the specifics written here in God’s Word.
When the debates begin, simply refer to God’s Truth. Simply stand on the Promises and Principals of the Holy Bible. As Herschel Hobbs so clearly states: The Scriptures are “a perfect treasure of divine instruction…the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried.” As Peter said in 2 Peter 1:20-21
20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
I guess we all could listen and form our opinions on the wisdom of man, but I think I will continue to seek the wisdom of God and His Truth in His Holy Word. What about you?
Dr Baldwin I sincerely understand that marriage was ordained by God. We live in a world filled with selfish motives and it will take only the Holy Spirit to redirect our society in its misconception of what marriage really means. The church must stand on Gods word and not be swayed by the worlds standards. We as Christs representives must lead by example and show the lost that the word of God is true and if we obey it in our hearts God will truly bless our marriages.
ReplyDeleteYes, I try to seek God's wisdom daily! I believe God's wisdom comes through reading his Word daily and prayer. We must have a open ear to hear God speak.
ReplyDeleteMarriage is a sacred covenant created by God. Elizabeth Achtemeier, author of The Committed Marriage, writes that no word spoken by God is more merciful than one that God speaks to himself at the start of the creation story:
"No word spoken by God is more merciful than one that God speaks to himself at the start of the story, as he muses over his creative work: "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper corresponding to him" (Gen. 2:18). God decided that we should not be by ourselves on his earth, that we should be set into a relationship. As it is put in Ps. 68:6, "God gives the desolate a home to dwell in." Into the structure of his creation, God speaks the reality that we were not meant to be alone! Moreover, that "other" with whom he wills that we live is to be one "corresponding" to us, one who matches us, hunger for hunger, one who answers what we are, one who loves back in response to our love, who cares in return for our care, one with whom we can talk and share in mutuality...Man and woman are intended by their Creator to live in a relationship of "corresponding," answering one another, body to body, mind to mind, spirit to spirit."
I love this quote because it reminds we how much God loves his children to unify them as one in marriage. Marriage is a covenant relationship between God and man.
My fiance and I both understand that in a Christian marriage, a husband and wife enter into a covenant with God and one another. In June, we will accept God’s requirements pertaining to our union and plegde our love to God and each other...till death do us part!
Marriage should never be entered into lightly without counsel. Counseling is helping us to holistically better understand one another. I believe that counseling should be a requirement for every couple (believers and nonbelievers) prior to marriage worldwide. It's important for ever person to fully understand the foundation, purpose, and biblical plan for marriage and family. Our world needs to hear more of the truth--God's Truth!
Proverbs 24:3 says, By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established;
ReplyDeleteWith that being said, how could it not be important for us to know, understand, and follow God's wisdom concerning the home? Since marriage and the home are so significant to our existence in this present life, certainly it is of great importance that we find trustworthy guidance concerning the married couple’s success. How much more trustworthy guidance may we find than that of the wisdom of the Lord our God!
The married couple can make their marriage the best it can be by putting God at the center. Marriage is a beautiful blessing when husband and wife remain under God's umbrella of wisdom and guidance. He holds answers to every challenge, healing for every hurt, and provision for all that is needed.
Married couples should seek God’s wisdom and discernment for decision making in their marriage whether it be financially, how to raise children or even where you should worship as a family.
Dear Pastor Garry:
ReplyDeleteWhen we seek God’s wisdom and follow it we can’t go wrong. When we rely on our understanding we soon find ourselves off tract and sometimes outside God’s will.
Marriage is one of the most beautiful examples of God’s desire to show us what His love should look like. Therefore, we should not enter into marriage without much prayer, reverence and His wisdom. Developing a relationship that reflects His love is a serious responsibility. With this in mind a couple must do everything within their power to take steps before and during the marriage to give it a good start.
First and foremost both people need to examine their relationship with God and make certain that He is their Lord and Savior over all aspects of their lives. Next, they need to seek wise counseling when needed and take advantage of premarital counseling.
These steps and many others are indications of the couple seeking the wisdom of God about marriage. Seeking wisdom requires God, seeking wise counseling requires God and seeking to have a strong and thriving marriage requires God.
Got God? Yes,then you have the wisdom necessary for working towards a God ordained and a God honoring marriage that cannot be torn apart.
Winnie