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When you seek guidance in your marriage from God his holy word will make your marriage far better than you attempting to guide your own marriage! 1 Corinthians 13:8
As Tony and I start our seventh month of marriage this week, I will admit that I love marriage just as much as I love love. I praise Jesus “God created marriage. No government subcommittee envisioned it. No social organization developed it. Marriage was conceived and born in the mind of God.” While marriage is not easy at all times, it is a loving learning experience by all means. I know that I am extremely young and have a lot left to learn on this journey. For now, I plan to continue journaling my thoughts, desires, and all the Lord is teaching us so that we can look back in years to come.
The sacredness of the marriage covenant should be the greatest part of a marriage celebration. Marriage is forever. I believe it is time to re-think the purpose of the wedding ceremony and the marriage covenant. So much effort is given today to all of the planning of the celebration which lasts one day. A marriage lasts forever. More thought needs to be given to how couples build a marriage that outlasts the wedding cake shared on that one year anniversary. Last Wednesday I joined in to post on All Things Wedding Planning and made it a point to include the tip "Have a marriage more beautiful than my wedding" quote. I truly believed in this quote while wedding planning and have pursued it like a passion to all ends since we said "I do" last June.
A marriage is not a contract. Covenant and contract are not synonymous. A contract is an agreement in which it is agreed upon to provide specific services for a specific length of time. In a contract, one does not give of themselves. In the biblical sense, a covenant is unconditional self-giving, for that is what God has done. He has given Himself to us. Marriage contracts are becoming popular, as well as the divorce rates. All too often couples commit to “....provide certain services and accept certain obligations, but do not ask me to give my entire self”. Such people refuse to commitment in marriage and reserve the right to themselves for themselves therefore the relationship simply cannot be genuine.
Recently, I was very captivated by someone who made a comment to me that I should cherish the job that my husband has even though he still "is a man at heart" (paraphrasing here). Now, great jobs are awesome for one income families but they are not everything. You see, jobs are part of the contract in a marriage. Marriage is not about obligations, a job, or who is supposed to do the cooking, cleaning, and bill paying. Now, while these are important aspects of working together in a marriage, it is important to note these obligations do not make a marriage last wholeheartedly. In essence, marriage is not about one person making a house a home financial, physically, emotionally, or spiritually. While income is nice, a job, clean dishes, ironed clothes, and contractual duties do not establish commitment in a marriage. Driven by the gospel, happy marriages last because faith, unconditional love, commitment, and the Lord's presence working between two people who have joined as ONE.
First and foremost, I cherish my husband's job and the role he represents in our marriage. I am thankful for all the Lord has blessed us with through Tony's job. The only reason we decided to get married while I was still in school was because Tony was blessed with a job offer very quickly. But as we learned during pre-marital counseling, there would be days I would let him down and there would be days that he disappoints me. It is a fact. It is all part of life and love. It is a learning process no matter how long you have been together or how compatible you think you are together. Regardless and most importantly, we believe in devoted commitment and a Christ centered foundation representing our marriage-- not where we work or what income we receive, not who is labeled to do the cleaning or cooking. As long as we are still married and able to share life and love, despite trials and tribulations of everyday life, we are committed to making our marriage out shine all the mess in this world and last through consulting the gospel each step of the way.
The world longs to see the hope a true Christian marriage brings, filled with the love and peace of Christ that goes the distance despite hardship or lessons to be taught. In Malachi 2 God calls marriage a covenant, a pledge and promise to not only stay married, but also care for one another, regardless of what happens. In sickness and in heath, for richer or for poorer. In marriage, as in no other human relationship, the truths of faithfulness, commitment, selflessness and unconditional love are lived out.
Marriage is forever. A contract is not forever.
As always, until next time- Happy Blogging!
As always, until next time- Happy Blogging!
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