Why Your Marriage is So Important

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God’s plan for marriage is so very different from what we see around us. Let me share some of God’s truths. I hope they might be a challenge and encouragement to you.

Marriage is designed to be a representation of God’s relationship with His church. Here are some of those comparisons from Ephesians 5: For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it. (verses 23-25) For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church. (verse 29) This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. (verse 32) Knowing that, when we have a doubt in our minds about how we should act with our spouse, we can ask ourselves how Jesus acts toward His church. Our role as women is the same yielding that is required from the church to Christ. Our submission should be in joyful obedience, as unto the Lord. (Ephesians 5:22)

Marriage is a permanent bond. The marriage covenant has always been the gluing together of two lives. From Adam and Eve until today, the idea of marriage is to leave and cleave. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh (Genesis 2:24). Don’t you think this is an interesting verse, since neither Adam nor Eve had a mother or a father? This is written for us! Jesus said, Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder (Matthew 19:6).

Biblical marriage is always the union between one man and one woman. (There are a few cases in the Bible where a man has multiple wives. This is clearly not God’s plan and always brought problems to the family. There is never a biblically approved marriage besides the marriage of one man and one woman.) Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh (Genesis 1:24. Similar verses are in Matthew 19:5-6; Mark 10:8; 1 Corinthians 6:16; and Ephesians 5:31. It certainly looks like God wants us to understand the definition!) Marriage always blends two totally different people into one unit. This is good for them, as they complement each other, and it’s good for future children, as one balances the other.

Marriage is the most beautiful and intimate expression of love. How fair and how pleasant art thou, O love, for delights! (Song of Solomon 7:6). Nothing else compares with the pure and committed love between a husband and his wife. No casual pleasure matches the marriage relationship, both emotionally and physically. Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame (Song of Solomon 8:6).

Marriage gives both husband and wife the opportunity to exercise grace on a daily basis. As we have received grace from God, so marriage is an expression of that grace. Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered (1 Peter 3:7). Two lives blended together, expressing the grace of God. Each considering the other and putting the other first. This is the ministry of marriage. The husband gives 100%, and the wife gives 100%. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it (Ephesians 5:25). She that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband (1 Corinthians 7:34b). Marriage is giving everything for the good of the other and for the good of the family.

Marriage provides a home and training for children. Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table. Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD (Psalm 128:3-4). In the Bible, children are always blessings from God. It is our responsibility as parents to train them. My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother (Proverbs 1:8). Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6). Marriage provides stability and security for children, because they see a daily example of commitment, respect, and love between their mother and father. They receive unconditional love from their parents. They are given direction, boundaries, and responsibility. A good home is like a slice of heaven on earth.

God officiated the first wedding immediately after Eve was created, and ever since, God has blessed married people. He even uses marriage as an object lesson about how He loves us, His church, and how the church responds with glad obedience and submission.

And God blessed them (Genesis 1:28a).

May God bless your marriage!