I think it is about time somebody stood up and gave three cheers for marriage! The world is doing a lot of talking these days about the pleasures of being a "swinging single." In fact, a whole cult is building up in our country around this idea. There are now "single bars," sindles apartment buildings, singles clubs, and the advertising world is cashin in by promoting cosmetics, sports gear, clothes, vacations, and restaurants designed especially for this group.
I am well aware of the fact that God did not intend every person to marry. I know dozens of women who live busy, fruitful lives without a family. Some, I think, have even chosen singelness as a way of life for the cause of Christ. Perhaps they had opportunities to marry but felt their opportunities for service for the Lord would be increased alone. others, no doubt, would have married had the Lord led them to the right man, but have found a life of contentment and joy outside of marriage.
God bless all of these dear women!
What concerns me is the trend in our time to avoid commitments and obligations that come with marriage and the rearing of a family. I am alarmed at the casual attitude even many Christians have toward the common practice of young people living together without benefit of the marriage ceremony. No matter what the Women's Movement may say, a woman who tries to avoid the responsibilities and involvement of a home and family simple because she does not want to be tied down and committed to a life of service for others, is cheating herself.
We forget that marriage is an institution created by God--the first institution, in fact--and it is of more significance than any other human institution, including government and the church. God knew what men and women would need to be most fulfilled, to function most efficiently, to be happiest and sagest in a world endangered and contaminated by sin. Marriage enable tow people to build a relationship--physical, spiritual and emotional--so unique and intimate and holy that God could make it a beautiful picture of Jesus Christ's relationship to the church.
In spite of the decay of our contemporary moral condition, the institution of marriage is still a precious gift of God to mankind. How important it is that every child of God do everything possible to preserve a standard of righteousness for his own marriage, to determine that nothing will damage the sanctity and quality of the home!
And how important it is that we teach our children the beauty and holiness of marriage, not only by example but by careful teaching from the Word of God. How sad it is that we provide a college education, we teach them to drive a car, to handle money , to develop other skills, but we neglect this most important training of all--how to have the right kind of marriage.
Thank God for marriage! May we seek for a renewal of God's blessing on the Christian home.
"God setteth the solitary in families..." Psalm 68:6
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Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh" Genesis 2:24
"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.
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.
Ephesian 5:22-27
~ Taken from With Love...and a Pinch of Salt by Jessie Rice Sandberg
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