In yesterday’s blog post
we saw the first purpose of marriage given by God when He instituted marriage
back in Genesis 2:24-25. That purpose
was severance – “a man
shall leave his father and mother.”
Now let’s look at the second purpose which is permanence. It says
that, “A man shall leave his father and mother and shall cleave to his wife.” Now, that word “cleave,” if it were to be
used today, could describe taking two pieces of steel and soldering them
together to make one permanent piece.
That's God's purpose for marriage – permanence – and that purpose has
not changed. God's purpose for marriage
always has been, still is, and always will be one man with one woman for one
lifetime.
What’s has changed is our
culture. Over half of marriages today in
our country fail. Over 75% of second
marriages fail. That's the culture we
live in today. So let me just say
this. When I talk to a young couple
who's getting ready to marry for the first time, here's what I say to them - If
you're entering into this marriage with any other thinking other than this,
divorce will never be an option, then don't get married.
Folks, listen. Here's the key. Whether you're married; whether it's your second marriage, third marriage, or fourth marriage; whether you're newly married or have been married for decades; whether your single but desire someday to be married; or whether you can simply say the word “marriage” - if any of those descriptions are true of you, let me just say this - Your marriage is worth fighting for. Yes, there will be trials. Yes there will be times of diversity. Even so, it is God's plan, God's purpose, for you to fight for that marriage.
We have seen the purpose
of severance and the purpose
of permanence. Now let’s look at the third purpose - interdependence. The verse says, “And they shall become one flesh.” What's that mean? To put it in modern-day vernacular, even
though it is a horrible analogy for marriage, it means that the moment you say
"I do" you become a
two-headed monster.
Think of the
progression. From the time you were
born, you were in a state of total dependence.
You couldn't do anything for yourself.
You were totally dependent on your parents. As you grew up, your parents wisely moved you
from dependence to independence. If they
were wise, they did it a little at a time - not all at once. When you became a single adult you then moved
to a state of total independence.
How does this relate to
marriage? Folks, listen, marriage isn't
dependence or independence. Marriage is
interdependence. When you get married,
it's no longer, “What do I want?”
It's now, “What do we want?”
It's no longer, “What are my dreams?” It's now, “What are our dreams?” I really believe that the best part of being
married is that you get to do life together.
The purpose of marriage is that you have that companion that God created
you with a need for, so that you can do life together. We’ve now seen severance, permanence
and interdependence – we
still have one more purpose of marriage to look at in tomorrow’s post.
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