Marriage 101 -- Lesson 2--Committed to God's Design

Why did God design marriage the way he did? That was our opening question Sunday.

As I planned to use that question, I knew it would stimulate discussion to clarify what was "God's design." When I think of "God's Design", my mind immediately can picture my mom using a phrase I heard her use many times, "One man; one woman." I can see her holding up her index finger on each hand for visual reinforcement. It's a simple expression, but I belive it captures probably the most critical feature of God's design--we are to be committed to our spouse and faithful to them.

This design is illustrated throughout the Bible. I'm just going to mention some of the most significant passages.

• Genesis 2:21-24--God didn't originally put us with multiple spouses
• Exodus 20:14--Thou shalt not commit adultery
• Hosea
• Ezekial 16--Analogy of God's faithfulness to an adulterous nation of Israel
• Malachi 2:13-16
• Matthew 19:1-9--Jesus comments on marriage
• Ephesians 5:21-33

I don't believe you can read these and not see that God's design is for us to be committed to our spouse. So the question remains, "Why was this God's design?"

We surfaced 2 reasons in class....

1. The marriage relationship allows us to learn so much about what God wants from our relationship with him. Scripture again is filled with analogies how the relationship of God to man is similar to husband and wife.
2. Marriage is a spiritual relationship which fosters accountability to another Christian. Within this design we get to know someone very well by spending time with them. We have the opportunity to get to know our spouse's weaknesses....rudeness, lack of faith, worry, pride, unholy talk--take your pick. By creating a setting for time together and increased accountability, God has given us our best earthly support for becoming the person he wants us to be.

In follow up to point #2 above, I shared my opinion that the best way to build a spiritual relationship with our partner is to PRAY TOGETHER. We'll come back to that next week, but don't wait till them. Spend some time this week praying with your spouse. I'm not talking about a meal time blessing, or a time of prayer with your kids as they go to bed. I'm talking about opening your heart to God and letting your spouse listen in and praying FOR God's blessings for your spouse as well. Every time Kerrie and I have dedicated ourselves to this, we have been blessed.

As we will try to do each week, we'll try to incorporate some discussion on advice we've heard and valued. I shared a piece that I heard when Kerrie and I were engaged and in a class for engaged couples at a large college church. Our minister, who was a guest speaker asked the class, "How do you know you picked the right mate?" You could have heard a pin drop. It's a sobbering if not scary question to engaged couples. His thoughts were basically...."You've picked the right person if they love God more than they love you." It was a powerful way of emphasizing to us that being committed to God's design was more important than applying our great wisdom in selecting just the right person.

Be thinking about the concept of "intimacy." In addition to prayer, we'll be discussing it a good bit this Sunday. Thanks to all who were there Sunday. We missed you if you weren't. Have a blessed week.