in divorce, we need to know God’s blueprint and let him be the master builder if we want to enjoy a happy marriage. When a man and a woman exchange their vows before God and witnesses in the wedding ceremony, they are making a commitment. They vow to stay together “for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health.â€? God designed marriage relationships to last a lifetime (1 Corinthians 7:39), and the couple expresses their agreement by promising to love and be faithful to one another “for as long as we both shall live.â€? This is a permanent relationship no matter what may come. The husband and wife are committing to leave their parents, to hold fast to each other, and to become one unit. Marriage is the only place where one plus one equals one. The covenant of marriage in the Bible is a legal and binding agreement that JHUUV[ IL IYVRLU (Z YLĂ…LJ[LK PU traditional vows, it is an agreement between two parties, binding them to mutual obligations that each must
M\SĂ„SS L]LU PU [OL MHJL VM KPMĂ„J\S[` The same word, covenant, is used in Scripture to describe God’s contract with his people. He made this promise: “I will be their God, and they shall be my people (Jeremiah 31:33). And just as God keeps his covenant promises to his people, he expects husbands and wives to keep their covenant promise to each other (Proverbs 2:17; Malachi 2:14).
But when the fullness
/L NH]L LHJO ZWLJPĂ„J YVSLZ [V WSH` HZ they live in this covenant relationship. He commanded the husband to love his wife and the wife to respect her husband (Ephesians 5:33).
so that we might receive
Marriage is a commitment to a covenant of companionship. God’s reason for forming Eve was so that Adam would not be alone. God knew Adam needed a companion, just as all the animals did (Genesis 2:20-22).
other, they grew in spiritual, social, intellectual, emotional, and physical companionship (Genesis 1–3).
As Adam and Eve spent time together, they grew in companionship, both vertically with God and horizontally with each other, providing a model for us to follow for meaningful and lasting companionship in marriage. As they interacted intimately with each
of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law,
adoption as sons. Galatians 4:4-5
When problems arise in a marriage, usually one or more of these primary spheres of companionship are being neglected. The good news is that [OL THYYPLK JV\WSL JHU Ă&#x201E;UK H ZVS\tion in Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Word for every issue that creates squabbles (1 Corinthians 10:13). Whether it is communication WYVISLTZ Ă&#x201E;UHUJPHS Z[Y\NNSLZ ZL_\HS discord, parental disagreements, or <PaaXPVT 5P\X[h } %