FAITH: Celebrate The Gift Of Marriage!

One person said, “Chains do not hold a marriage together. It is threads, hundreds of tiny threads, which sew people together through the years.” Martin Luther said, “There is no more lovely, friendly and charming relationship, communion or company than a good marriage.” My wife was born in Swaziland, raised in South Africa and has now lived more than twenty years in Alaska! He who finds a wife finds a good thing!

The very first institution God ordained was marriage. On the same day God created Adam, God created Eve. God paired the first couple together. I believe that God the Son, the Lord Jesus, performed the very first wedding. God’s blueprint for a great marriage is found in the Bible. Who better than God Himself to give a prescription for a dynamic marriage? In Genesis 2:18-25 we learn three great principles about marriage.

First, marriage has a divine purpose. In verse 18 God said, “It is not good that man should be alone. I will make him a helper suitable for him.” When God designed marriage He had specific goals in mind. One goal was relationship. He said, “It is not good for man to be alone.” Marriage is to be a deep, abiding relationship. Your spouse is to be your best friend!

The most important thing in life from God’s perspective are relationships. It’s not stuff or possessions. Jesus during His earthly ministry focused on people. Marriage is designed for deep friendship.

Another purpose for marriage is help. God said, “I will make him a helper suitable for him” (verse 18). Marriage is also designed to complete. The word suitable means “corresponding to” or “exactly corresponding.” God made them male and female. Marriage is for Bob and Mary, not Dick and Harry. Any attack upon marriage is an attack upon God Himself.

In verses 19 and 20 Adam named all the animals. There was no companion found for Adam. God did something amazing. Verse 21 says, “So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept he took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh.” God literally built a woman. Matthew Henry said, “Woman was made not out of his head to top him, nor out of his feet to be trampled upon by him, but out of his side to be equal with him.”

Second, marriage deserves the highest priority. When Adam saw his wife for the first time he burst into poetry. This is the very first poem in the Bible. “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman, because she was taken out of man” (verse 23).

God said, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (verse 24). Marriage is the most important human relationship.

Sometimes our careers or work distract from our marriage. Sometimes we get too busy and forget the importance of our spouse. Other times our children demand so much time and attention we forget the importance of marriage. Dating is not just for teenagers! Dating does not end with marriage. My wife and I enjoy gardening together. Every year we enjoy spending time in Death Valley and swimming in the hot springs. Spending time together is vital!

Third, marriage is to be permanent. In verse 24 the phrase “hold fast” means “to be glued to, to be stuck to.” The same word is used in 2 Samuel 23 to describe one of David’s mighty men. His hand stuck to his sword because he held it so tightly in battle. The same word is used in Genesis 34. Shechem loved Dinah. His love for her was so great that he was glued to her. There must be permanence and passion in marriage.

As men we are to love our wives as Christ loved the church. Jesus gave His life to rescue His people from their sins. As Jesus loved the church we must love our wives. We are even to love our wives as we love our own bodies. Whatever your wife needs, provide for her.

God’s goodness is seen on the sixth day of creation. The same day He created Adam, He made Eve. God’s goodness is seen in marriage. We serve an amazing God!

Pastor Ethan Hansen

Faith Bible Fellowship

Big Lake, AK