HONOR MARRIAGE

 

HONOR MARRIAGE

Heb. 13:4 Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery. NLT

       This instruction is timeless and never more needed than today. We live in a time in history in which the sacredness and importance we place on marriage is quickly fading. We are driven by selfish interests and desires to the point where we are quickly losing our sense of integrity. Moral right and wrong are no longer absolute truths that guide us. We are driven more by our passions than our souls. The ways of the world are in the Church and gaining a greater influence over us.

       God takes marriage as He designed it, seriously. He makes it clear in His Word that marriage is defined as a committed relationship between a man and a woman that is for life. He does not approve of divorce and in a godly marriage, there is no escape clause. He holds us accountable for our faithfulness to our vows of fidelity. He commands us to honor marriage, which means as well that we take an invested interested in our relationship with our spouse and strive to make it a good one.

       To honor marriage means as well that we don't cave in to the world's thinking on marriage. God sets the rules and definitions, not man. Marriage is not what most people say it is. We must examine our understanding in light of God's Word. Like it or not, God's definition of marriage is today what He declared it to be from the beginning, that of the union between a man and a woman. He who disagrees has to convince God He is wrong.

       God promises to judge all who are immoral and establish marital relationships outside of marriage. By that, I mean getting emotionally or physically involved with someone other than one's spouse in a way that should only be reserved for one's spouse. It is morally wrong to forsake your vows of fidelity to your spouse. It is sin and God will judge it. Period.

      We must protect our hearts and minds and refuse to entertain thoughts that would jeopardize our moral integrity in marriage. We alone can say no to the temptations that surround us. If you are struggling in this area of your life, you must confess it before the Lord, seek His forgiveness, and ask Him to help you. If you don't, you will face God's wrath for it someday.

        Also, in order for a marriage to be what God created it to be, there has to be a legal binding of the relationship.  Laws vary across cultural boundaries, but nevertheless, as long as the law of the land does not violate God’s standards of morality, there must be a legal binding together of the relationship.  In God’s eyes, there is no such thing as a common-law marriage.

        The marriage institution is the most sacred relationship amongst mankind.  It behooves us to take it seriously and honor the Lord in it.  A couple who takes lightly marriage will answer to God for it.