Marriage

It was Adam alone that materialized when the LORD GOD created man. He thought it was not good for the man to be alone and decided in favor of a suitable helper for him. The LORD GOD then extracted the woman out of the man. Immediately after, “God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.’ ” Genesis 1:28.
Adam was enthralled when he saw Eve. He said: “This is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman’, for she was taken out of man.” Genesis 2:23. Then the LORD GOD instituted Marriage by saying: “For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” Genesis 2:24

There is need to understand what ‘this reason’ is in that passage. The decree of the LORD GOD is that when a man decides to leave his father and mother and unite with a woman, the two automatically become one flesh, the perfect one flesh that He created. ‘The reason’ is that originally, the woman was taken out of man. Marriage is a kind of restitution. Of course, sexual relation is an important ingredient of the set up in that the LORD GOD specifically blessed it. There is an important point that we must not overlook. The various marriage statutes tainted by various customs and traditions are man-made, and are intended to regulate human behavior as the location dictates.
Going by the tone of that blessing in Genesis 1:28, we can conclude that that was the reason the LORD GOD created them male and female: To be fruitful and multiply. All marriages and sexual relations that are set out to deny or sidetrack this blessing remain abominations before the LORD GOD. When such abominable practices got to a head in Sodom and Gomorrah, the LORD GOD destroyed the two cities by fire. As the Bible tells us, the LORD GOD does not change in any way or manner. His attitude remains the same to this kind of practice.

The onus of choosing your marriage partner is yours. You have to ensure compatibility before going into marriage. Once your decision is made, the decree of the LORD GOD is that the two of you shall become the perfect one flesh that He created. However, when one of the two engages in sexual relations with another person, that one forms an extra one flesh. That particular marriage does not any more conform to the decree of the LORD GOD. The one flesh originally formed is no more perfect. This is the only ground permitted for divorce. Matthew 19:1-9.

Marital problems arise because partners do not usually, first and foremost, consider the question of compatibility before contracting marriage. Rather, one is attracted to the other for various reasons: beauty; height; legs; complexion; gait; bounteous bosom; hind quarters; exquisite figure; fame; money and so on. Consideration about compatibility usually comes up when it is already too late. And so, they separate what GOD has joined together. When choosing a partner, the question of intelligence and loyal heart becomes primary.

We have to consider what actually constitutes marriage, and the point at which marriage is contracted. There are various ideas about marriage depending on where you are. The Christians have there own idea of how marriage is contracted. Various customs and peoples have different ideas about what constitute marriage. Marriage laws vary from state to state, and from nation to nation. In short, marriage presents so many perspectives. This chaotic situation cannot be valid. It follows then that marriage is not defined by laws or customs. According to the LORD GOD, marriage is contracted when a man decides to leave his father and mother to unite with a woman. The two are joined together as husband and wife, irrespective of any law, or custom or ceremony or the absence of any or all.

In case you are thinking of marriage, you will do well to keep the following in mind: Whether you are the husband or the wife, you need a partner that is compatible with you. If you are the husband, you want a helper as your wife. And you wife, you want to be of help to your husband.
A married couple that is emotionally compatible will play together, talk together, smile together, eat together, care for each other, understand each other and generally share the same likes and dislikes. Moral compatibility will ensure reliability, truthfulness, devotion, loyalty, trust and mutual respect between the two. Intelligence wise, they will give allowance to peccadilloes as human failings and have the spirit of give and take. If there is compatibility, a married couple shall live happily together here after. What a haven! On the other hand, the absence of compatibility will most certainly lead to divorce.

Marriage is a sacred institution. You will do well by treating it as such.