Scripture presents the benefits of marriage in Old & New
Testament. We, as is our nature, have
created our own benefits for marriage.
As we have distorted the purpose and benefits of marriage, so have we
lived and witnessed the distortion of marriage.
This distortion of marriage has affected all of our other
relationships—our relationship with God, parents, children, friends, siblings,
etc.
Benefits: comfort
(Genesis 24:67) internal harmony & peace; someone to love (Gen 24:67);
oneness (Gen 2:24) intimacy without shame (Gen 2:24); not alone (Gen 2); a child (Gen 17:16) children
(Gen 4:1-2), fruit of the womb (Deutoronomy 7:13-14); fruit of thy
loins (Psalm 127:3-5); responsibility to teach them about God (Deut 4:9-10); an
available sexual partner – so you don’t burn in passion (1 Co 7:9); to avoid
fornication (1 Cor 7:2); enjoy the wife of thy youth ( Prov 5:18); an
honourable thing (Hebrews 13:4)
Our Perceived Benefits: someone to grow old with; double income or ↑financial
security; ↓financial
burden; ↑buying
capacity; companionship; ↑status in society; someone to talk to; two parents;
dedicated support system; emotional support; warmth (compassion); BFF
Purpose: To glorify God, follow God only (Deut
7:3-4); to love God above all else (Deut 10:12-13; Deut 6:5), to be a servant in the kingdom of God on earth
(Matthew 1:22-23), Be spiritually fruitful, to have dominion, multiply the
likeness (spiritual image) of God on earth (Genesis 1:26-28).
To worship God: this is what some
or all of the heavenly creatures do all day (Rev 7:15; 22:9). Sometimes, God ordains that service to Him
will occur with a help mate. Not to
teach him, but to support him—be in prayer for him, care for him,
nurture/support him (e.g. Christ asked the disciples to watch while He prayed
in the Garden – Matthew 26:38-40); So he can fight the good fight;
cover him in prayer/she covers him in prayer… as he or both
minister to widows, orphans & strangers together (Acts 18:2,18, 26; Romans 16:3; 1 Cor 16:19 Aquila & Priscilla). She was created to support him in his service to God. In our fallen world, there are many distortions
of this design. We are to be spiritual
support for each other in our service to God (Ephesians 5:23-33).
The body of Christ corporate > to families>to individuals.
Our Perceived Purpose: we crave a
mate to fill the emptiness; to ↓the parenting burden; ↓
financial burden; to entertain us; to engage in eros (romantic) love with us; to improve
our station in life; to meet the demands of our flesh, our parents or our society.
All of these motivations result in various forms of chaos & discord. Whether young or old, married or single, IS
YOUR MAIN FOCUS to worship & serve God? Or is it something else? (Christ on marriage Matthew 19:1-10-12; Paul on marriage 1
Cor 7:8)
Supernatural Reality:
Marriage was created by God in the beginning for His purposes. He ordained that the spiritual image of Him should be
multiplied upon the earth through this union between one man and one
woman. He orchestrated the union. It is an honorable state. Putting it in perspective with eternity;
there will be no individual marrying in heaven because it is not needed for righteous man
living with God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew 22:29-30; Rev 19:7-9; 21:9).
