In our current society, marriage often has a poor reputation. To be honest, marriage can look quite intimidating depending on where you look. Divorces are rampant both in the church and the world; for many, the institution seems more like a curse than a blessing. Some have had such hellish experiences that they wouldn't wish marriage on their worst enemy. Indeed, marriage can either make or break you, depending on whom you choose as a spouse.
Marriage is a solemn undertaking that requires deep reflection, much thought, and even more prayer. The worst mistake one can make is to be blinded by raw emotion; reality has a way of making such impulsive decisions lead to regret. However, beyond the frightening aspects of a "bad" marriage lies a beautiful experience—if we understand its true purpose. A successful marriage based on divine principles will still have its challenges, but it is a beautiful thing that our individualistic society needs now more than ever.
Our society is deeply selfish. You can be surrounded by people yet feel utterly alone because everyone is busy chasing their own dreams, leaving no time for their neighbor. Marriage is the cure for this ill. In a rightful marriage, each partner understands their task: to be a lifelong companion to the other. Everyone else may be too busy for you, but your spouse should not be.
In a marriage based on divine principles, I understand that my spouse is my companion. When a person is single—and there is nothing wrong with being single—they must handle most of life's burdens alone. In marriage, life’s tasks are shared. A single man must cook, iron, and do his own laundry. A married man with a good wife can come home to a prepared meal, knowing his needs are met and his household is cared for.
Conversely, an independent woman may have to handle car repairs, rent, lawn maintenance, and financial management all on her own. But a woman with a good husband can simply say, "Honey, I think something is wrong with the car," and know it will be handled. She knows she has a shoulder to lean on during life’s greatest difficulties.
In this difficult world, a good marriage is a source of strength, comfort, and support. It is the security of knowing, "I am here for them, and they are here for me." I can lift her up when she is weak, and she can comfort me in hard times. It is having a partner to help you on the way to Heaven.
True love begins when we realize that marriage is not primarily about sex or being treated like a character in a "prince or princess" fantasy. While intimacy and romance are parts of the whole, companionship is the foundation. It is having someone to talk to, someone to share your mind with, someone to travel and experience the world with.
Companionship is what we are all truly looking for. For example, when I preach, my wife may not be on the pulpit with me, but she is involved in the sermon because she often creates my PowerPoints. That is companionship.
Marriage is not bad; it is a good and beautiful thing. We begin to enjoy its blessings when we understand that to be married is to have a faithful companion for life’s journey, through both the good days and the bad. Marriage is about love, and it is about God. With Him at the center, you will enjoy the fullness of its blessings.
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