It is God’s will that the marriage union be permanent, a lifetime commitment. There is no place in Christian marriage for a “trial marriage,” nor is there any room for the “escape-hatch” attitude: “If the marriage doesn’t work, we can always get a divorce.”.

For this reason, marriage must be built on something sturdier than good looks, money, romantic excitement, and social acceptance. There must be Christian commitment, character, and maturity. There must be a willingness to grow, to learn from each other, to forgive and forget, to minister to one another.

The kind of love Paul described in 1 Corinthians 13 is what is needed to cement two lives together.

God has put “walls” around marriage, not to make it a prison, but to make it a safe fortress. The person who considers marriage a prison should not get married. When two people are lovingly and joyfully committed to each other—and to their Lord—the experience of marriage is one of enrichment and enlargement.

They grow together and discover the richness of serving the Lord as a team in their home and church.

Scripture to remember:  “For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and the two shall become one flesh; consequently they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate” (Mark 10:7-9, NASB).

Also read: Mark 10:2-12; Luke 16:18; Romans 7:1-3.

Action assignment: Ask God to help you toward a greater grasp of the biblical view of marriage and not let your philosophy be tainted by the modem, worldly view.

WARREN W. WIERSBE
www.backtothebible.in