Dale Ridge church of Christ

        As I was considering writing this article, I happened to browse the web for a possible quotation or two with which to open.  Though I was not too surprised, the vast majority of quotations were very bitter toward marriage.   Sadly, that which was given by God to man to be for mankind’s happiness and benefit is viewed so negatively.  Indeed, even the best of marriages have their difficulties at times.  Ultimately, though, as it has been said, “Marriages are made in heaven, but they need to be worked on on earth.”  In other words, marriage is what we make it.  Here are some biblical insights to help make our marriages better.

        One thing a couple can do to improve a marriage relationship is to follow the leave and cleave principle.  The first wedding ceremony was performed in the Garden of Eden when God presented Eve to Adam.  On this occasion, the first recorded words of man are given when Adam stated, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh:  she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man” (Genesis 2:23).  The application of this is then given that a man should leave his father and mother and should cleave unto his wife.  Image the state of marriage in our nation if this principle were truly followed.  Imagine how much better your marriage would be if you truly followed this principle.

        Another thing a husband and wife or those who are thinking about entering into marriage can do is to look for completeness in the right Person.   Many times, individuals, when looking for that right person to marry, look for a person who is going to “complete” them.  This, though, is impossible, because there is no person that can make us complete in this life.   Christ is the only one who can truly complete us (Colossians 2:10).  A marriage relationship where husband and wife enjoy this completeness in Christ is a relationship that is continually giving, growing, and thriving. 

        Still, a third insight that can help make a marriage better is to see things for what they are.  This was actually a piece of advice that my father-in-law offered to me and my wife before we were married.  It has been said that anyone who has been married for more than a week knows quite well that marriages are not immune from trouble.  It has also been said that there are three rings in a marriage:  the engagement ring, the wedding ring and suffe-ring.  As troubles do come at times in any and all marriages, husbands and wives need to see things for what they are.  This is really a good definition of faith.  This is what Paul did when troubles came into his life.  He saw his troubles as light and but for a moment as compared with eternity (2 Corinthians 4:17).  When we see things for what they are, we can have better marriages.   

        When it comes to speaking of marriage from the biblical viewpoint, the focus is often from a defensive, reactionary point of view.  Dealing with issues related to marriage from such an angle is important.   Unscriptural divorces and issues related to adultery indeed continue to be a problem.  Yet, not only should we take a defensive position against these problems, we should also be on the offensive and work to make marriage the best that it can possibly be.

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Filed under: Devotional, Michael Carter on February 21st, 2009