Why do we marry? Are unmarried people lonely? Why do some people choose to be single forever? Well there are many questions which people ask regarding marriage. Starting a family is something vital in one's life. It is the dream of every person to have a happy family.
I don't know what is wrong with marriages of these days. The number of divorce cases reported worldwide is high. Is it advisable to divorce especially after vowing that you will take care of one another despite the problems that you will face together? We will discuss about divorce later on.
Purpose of Marriage
I don't know about you and since I am a Christian, I am going to argue from the Holy Bible about the importance of Marriage in our lives.
Marriage is a serious institution that was initiated by God in the Garden of Eden. There was a reason why God created women, women who will live with men not like enemies but more than friends. The word woman when separated to be two words becomes 'wo-man.' Meaning that the word woman is derived from the word man-the letters 'wo' have been added before the word man.
The book of Genesis tells us that a woman was created by God from one of the ribs that belonged to man and thus woman was taken out of man (Genesis 2:23.) The New Testament in the book of 1Corithians 11:8 says clearly that man is not from woman but woman is from man.
But here is a verse for you to ponder 1Corithians 11:12 (use the New King James Version.)
Why was a woman created by God? Here are the reasons:
1.) He didn't want man to be lonely and so created a woman to give man company (Genesis 2:18.)
2.) God created a woman so as to help man. There was much work to be done by man (Adam) which God had given him and so man required a person who will help him in doing it. God saw that a woman is comparable to man (Genesis 2:18.) He didn't create male to help man but he created a female.
3.) After creating man then a woman, God blessed them to be fruitful and to multiply so as to fill the earth. He created a woman for procreation purpose (so as they have children with men) Genesis 1:28. The first child born by Adam and eve (I will term them as the first parents on earth) was Cain (Genesis 4:1.) Without a woman this could be impossible.
From the creation of a woman by God, then I won't be wrong if I conclude that marriage serves the following purposes:
1.) Avoiding loneliness in life.
2.) To help one another.
3.) To have children. When people marry they are expected to have their children.
As per the Holy Bible, a man is supposed to leave his parents so as to be joined with his wife and thus become one flesh (Genesis 2:24.) What about those men who don't do this? Are there any consequences of going against this?
Is Divorce Good?
When people marry they are expected to fulfill the above mentioned purposes for a marriage to function. All these purposes are from the Old Testament. There is one most important thing that Paul says in the New Testament about wives and husbands. Now you are asking me, what did Paul say?
In the book of 1Corinthians Paul explains the principles of marriage, they are:
1.) Each man to have one wife and each woman to have one husband (1Corinthians 7:2.)
2.) Each husband should provide affection to his wife and each wife is also to do the same to her husband (1Corinthians 7:3.)
3.) The husband has no authority over his body, but his wife has authority over it. The wife also has no authority of over her body, but her husband has authority over it. For this reason they should not deprive one another except after consulting one another and coming to a mutual understanding. (1Corinthians 7:4-5.)
In 1corithians 11:3, Paul wants us to know that man is the head of a woman.
One important thing that Paul says about marriage relationship is when he referred to Jesus Christ's love for the church. He informs husbands to love their wives the way Jesus loved the church (Ephesians 5:25.)
Divorce isn't a good thing especially when you consider the upbringing of children. The verse that answers whether divorce is good is 1Corinthians 7:10-11.