“Marriage was his idea, after all. God created marriage, and put the desire in our hearts… the hopeful truth is that marriage is something God cares deeply about—including your marriage.”
— John and Stasi Eldredge, Love and War
We form all kinds of relationships in life—at work, in our neighborhoods, within the church, and among family and friends. Yet among all of them, marriage stands apart. It’s a relationship built on a promise, a covenant meant to anchor a home and nurture the next generation.
For Christians, marriage is more than romance or a practical partnership. It is a sacred covenant established by God Himself. Because marriage is His idea, it comes with His wisdom for how we were meant to live, flourish, and love. It is not simply the union of two people, but a reflection of God’s design for companionship, intimacy, and mutual support.
This is why the Eldredges’ reminder matters: “Marriage was his idea, after all.”
When we lose sight of that, we risk treating marriage lightly, and the consequences ripple out into our families and communities. Marriage is part of the structure God built into creation for human thriving.
From the very beginning, Scripture shows us God’s heart: “It is not good for the man to be alone.” God designed men and women in His image, uniquely designed to complement one another. The longing for companionship isn’t an accident—it’s God-given. And marriage is one of the primary places where that longing finds its deepest expression. Through marriage families begin, communities grow, and lives are shaped. None of us were made to live life in isolation.
Even with all the complexities that relationships bring, this truth remains: marriage is a gift from God. Across cultures and throughout history, marriage has been honored as a sacred institution—not invented by society, but woven by God into the fabric of human life.
Malachi 2:16 (NLT) reminds us of the seriousness of this covenant:
“For I hate divorce!” says the Lord, the God of Israel.
“To divorce your wife is to overwhelm her with cruelty,”
says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
“So guard your heart; do not be unfaithful to your wife.”
In Malachi’s day, men held nearly all the power in marriage. God’s words protected vulnerable wives and called husbands to cherish, not discard. While our culture today looks different, the call remains the same: love faithfully. Love may draw a husband and wife together, but faithfulness is what keeps them together.
Just as God’s covenant holds through His faithfulness, a Christian marriage thrives when husband and wife remain steadfast—both to one another and to God. When faithfulness falters, love cannot endure.
In an age of temporary connections and shifting values, God’s design for marriage offers something we desperately need: a place of safety, steadiness, and growth. In a world wrestling with loneliness, anxiety, and brokenness, healthy and faithful marriages shine with quiet strength.
Marriage was—and still is—God’s idea. When we honor it, nurture it, and commit to it, we join Him in His good design for the flourishing of our families, our churches, and our world.
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