Today, I am talking about marriage. During these times, many people are worried about getting married. This is understandable, because people have difficulties, and many marriages (including among Christians) end in divorce. I aim to observe marriage in light of scripture. This helps me have a positive, yet realistic attitude about it.

The love of Jesus Christ is perfect love. Jesus Christ loves the church and wooed the church with His love. He died for the church while people were yet in sin.

“And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.” Ephesians 5: 1.

We love God, because he first loved us:

“We love him, because he first loved us.”

– 1 John 4: 19.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” – John 3:16.

How does this relate to people, and why is marriage beautiful?

The husband and wife relationship is to reflect the beautiful relationship between Jesus Christ and the church. A husband and wife can love each other wonderfully. The Bible is the blueprint, and shows what a Christ-centered marriage looks like. The wife yields herself in cooperation and receptivity as her husband selflessly loves her as Christ loves the church.

“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.” – Ephesians 5: 22-24.

When the wife is cooperative and receptive, she accepts her husband as he selflessly loves her as Christ loves the church.

“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.” Ephesians 5: 25-28

This is such a beautiful picture! That said, people are imperfect. Even a Christian husband and wife are a work in progress. Consequently, there will be time throughout their marriage for them to endure trials, be continuously sanctified, and become more and more like Jesus. They should reflect more and more, the relationship between Jesus Christ and the church as they grow spiritually.

Why is marriage a good thing?

Married couples will be able to say a lot more about this than I can! However, when I study God’s word, in addition to observing married couples, here are some things I consider to be great benefits of marriage:

1) It glorifies God for a man and a woman to honor Him in marriage.

“Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord.” Proverbs 18: 22

2) A godly marriage is a picture of and reflects the relationship between Jesus Christ and the church. Ephesians 5: 22-33.

3) Marriage provides great opportunities for spiritual growth and to become more and more like Christ.

“But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.” -1 Corinthians 7: 28.

4 ) Marriage provides companionship and intimacy!

“Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.” Proverbs 5: 18-19. See also 1 Corinthians 7: 2-5.

Married couples can glorify God in Parenthood.

5 ) Typically, marriage provides opportunity for the husband and wife to be fruitful and multiply.

“And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” – Genesis 1:28.

God seeks godly seed.

“Didn’t the Lord make you one with your wife? In body and spirit you are his. And what does he want? Godly children from your union. So guard your heart; remain loyal to the wife of your youth.  “For I hate divorce!” says the Lord, the God of Israel. “To divorce your wife is to overwhelm her with cruelty,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “So guard your heart; do not be unfaithful to your wife.”

– Malachi 2: 15-16.

Parents who raise their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord are able to leave a godly legacy.

6) The godly father and mother as earthly parents reflect God as our heavenly parent.

“Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?”

– Matthew 7: 9-11.

The Lord says, “As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.”

– Isaiah 66: 13.

• Both earthly fathers and mothers have attributes that reflect those of our heavenly Father.

• Although the demonstration of earthly fathers and mothers is flawed, it is a beautiful type of the relationship between God and His sons and daughters.

• For example, fathers provide, lead, and protect.

• Mothers provide in how they love, nurture, and care for their children.

• God has all of these qualities and more, and He demonstrates them in perfection.

It is all about God.

This is significant. It reminds me that everything that I do, including getting married, is to glorify God. If I marry, my marriage should reflect the relationship between Jesus Christ and the church. This is glorifying to God.

If I have children, I am to live a holy, godly example of motherhood in how I love, nurture, and care for my children. I should marry a man who is willing to do the same- to demonstrate the selfless love and sacrificial leadership of Father God; providing, loving, leading, protecting and chastening, as God does for His children.

It is not about romance novels coming to life. It is not about fairy tales. It is about a very real relationship between God and His people. It is about real relationship between a husband and wife. God being glorified in our relationship with Him, and in our relationships with other people is the goal. For these reasons, marriage is beautiful.

This is inspite of the present trepidation of marriage that many people have. We live in a world where people have lived life and tried to do marriage their own way, instead of God’s way. The results have been disastrous.

Plenty people have observed this. Consequently, they fear it is not worth it to get married. People doing things their own way has not worked, and will not work in the future. Though it often will not be easy, God’s way is the way that works, and this is why Christians must truly be equally yoked with fellow Christians (2 Corinthians 6: 14).

The life of the Christian should be a life of worship regardless.

Certainly, not everyone will get married. Regardless of whether or not we marry or stay single, it is very important to remember what the Bible says concerning the purpose for our endeavors.

“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” – Colossians 3: 17.

“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”

1 Corinthians 10: 31.