The Blessings of Christian Marriage ATP)
What blessing does the Bible speak of in marriage and what parts of your life can truly be hindered from God moving in them without marriage?
In our society today, marriage isn’t always looked at as favorable or necessary. I speak with young people all the time who have made plans to live with their boyfriend or girlfriend but have no plans for marriage. Many people get engaged but never actually get married. Marriage is mocked, spouses degrade spouses, and catchy phrases like “the old ball and chain” are common among these times. This comes all without the understanding of what God really intended for marriage to be, but if we look to the Bible we will see marriage for what God intended it to be, that is between a man and a woman, as an example of His covenant with us.
Genesis 2:18 gives us God’s heart from the beginning. “And the LORD God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” We know that God goes on to form Eve from Adam’s ribs. We see this same truth reflected in Proverbs 18:22, which says, “He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the LORD.” That word favor means acceptance but also pleasure. It is acceptable to God that a man and woman become one in marriage. In marriage there is likewise pleasure and favor from the Lord. It’s a blessing when two Christians come together this way.
Look at Mark 10:6-9, “But from the beginning of the creation, God ‘made them male and female.’ ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” Now look at Ecclesiastes 4:9-11, “Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm;
But how can one be warm alone?” When married God’s way, two people become a force to be reckoned with! A married couple in a godly relationship will keep each other accountable to serving God and living uprightly. A godly couple can uphold one another in times of trouble and rejoice with one another in times of great blessing and victory!
There are many scriptures that help us to understand our various roles as husbands and wives that only add to the blessing of a godly marriage. Proverbs 31 describes the example wife. Look at Proverbs 31:10, “Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies.” A wife who upholds the virtues of the Lord is invaluable, her worth to her husband immeasurable. Now look at Ephesians 5:25, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.” A godly husband lays down his life for his wife, putting her first and giving all to care for her. A godly marriage is such a blessing because if both individuals do their share, upholding their end, neither ever goes without!
Besides this, the Bible is clear about physical intimacy as being reserved for within the confines of a married relationship. The marriage bed isn’t supposed to be defiled. 1 Corinthians 7:9 says, “but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.” If we have physical desires that will cause us to sin, we ought to be married before partaking of them. Once married, that is a man and woman’s gift to one another. It’s really a beautiful arrangement from the Lord.
For all these reasons and more, marriage is one of the most precious gifts the Lord has left us with. Let’s value this covenant and let it be as the Lord has intended, to remind us of how He sees His relationship with us.
Be Blessed,
Pastor Renée
