9.27.2011

God's Plan for Family: For the Marriage Covenant

Today's family is in trouble more than ever before. Today there is a lot of confusion about what a family even consists of. Many children are being raised in single parent homes. Many homes even with both parents still are clueless about what a successful family looks like. No family is perfect, but God has specific instructions for a successful family.


Ephesians 5:21-6:4 (NIV) say's, 
...and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ. Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her; that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she should be holy and blameless. So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body. For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless let each individual among you also love his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see to it that she respect her husband. Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth. And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger; but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

The above passage may sound too good to be true but it is possible with God's help. We must first go to square one though, where it all starts. The Family starts with the Marriage - and Marriage is not a contract - it is a Covenant. Most couples consider marriage to be a contract, but the problem is contracts can be broken.

A Covenant is by definition is an agreement and guarantee one person makes with another. The Hebrew word for covenant used in the Old Testament comes from the verb “to cut”. In an Old Testament covenant the two parties would kill a sheep and split it down the center. the two individuals making covenant would then walk between the two halves of the animal and the idea was if either of us break this covenant then what happens to this animal may happen to us. As you can see a covenant is a serious thing to make and even more a serious thing to break in the eyes of God. A Covenant cannot be broken, at least not without dire consequences being paid. The thing is, God sees marriage as a Covenant.



Malachi 2:14  (NKJV) say's,

Yet you say, “For what reason?” Because the LORD has been witness Between you and the wife of your youth, With whom you have dealt treacherously; Yet she is your companion  And your wife by covenant.

 In the above passage in Ephesians 5:31 I highlighted, For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh.

Three notable things are found in this verse. Leaving, Cleaving, and becoming one flesh. These are essential qualities in a successful marriage covenant. For example if the man or woman marries, but refuses to leave the control of their parents, then it becomes problematic for the couple. If the couple does not cleave to each other, which means to bond emotionally, spiritually, financially, and physically, then there will be problems. The realization needs to be that they are one flesh. No more mine and yours, but OURS! This is not a contract that can be broken, it is a COVENANT! 


Proverbs 2:16-19 (NKJV) say's,
To deliver you from the immoral woman, From the seductress who flatters with her words, Who forsakes the companion of her youth,  And forgets the covenant of her God. For her house leads down to death, And her paths to the dead; None who go to her return, Nor do they regain the paths of life.

 Hebrews 13:4 (NKJV) say's, 
Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

Marriage and Covenant are words that are intertwined and cannot be separated. Man can attempt to hang a new definition on marriage, but it is God who created it and not any man or government. Marriage is a holy covenant in the eyes of God. 



Be sure to read the next blog in this series for Husbands!