A lot actually, in fact, the Bible which is the word of God gives us a complete compass to navigate all things that concern human existence, and marriage is not left out of this.
Let’s see what we know about marriage from its inauguration by God in the book of Genesis. The bible says:
“The LORD God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.’” – Genesis 2:18
So, in this verse, we see that God created the man first, and he needed a helper to abide with him in order to do all that the Lord had commanded him to do.
God made a woman to become one with the man. This is God’s intention for the marriage as we now call it.
Here is another important thing that characterizes a marriage:
“That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.” – Genesis 2:24
Marriage Between a Husband and Wife According to the Bible
Now, God did not only make this woman as a helper and that was it. He also gave a blueprint of the way this marriage would play out.
It is a process that begins with the man leaving his family and everything and everyone that he knows, not in a manner of abandonment, but as being independent of the external suggestions that can hamper their union, and being joined to his wife.
Marriage is to be a place for only the man and his wife who have now become one flesh (the same person). They thrive together in the good times, and in the bad times; they remain together, ever glued and strong through the adversities.
Even though God had a perfect plan on the way things should play out in the marriage, we now see a different scheme of things in our world today.
We see the lack of oneness in the marriage so glaring because we seem to find the absence of the principal element of love lacking. Where there is no love, the marriage is not existent.
We have seen the first mandate of the marriage, which is that the woman becomes a helper to the man in his quest to fulfill all that God has commanded of him.
Marriage and its Fruitfulness
The next thing that we know the marriage is for, is fruitfulness.
So the bible says:
“God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” – Genesis 1:28
You see the first term of the blessing there? “Be fruitful and increase in number…”, this is a blessing to multiply in number. It was literally a command of reproduction, so, the next thing the institution of marriage should fulfill is reproduction.
A marriage should not only produce spiritual fruits but physical ones as well; this is the will of God.
Husbands Love Your Wives
The marriage should be a sacred place of love and living example of Christ’s love for the church. Husbands must love their wives:
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her… – Ephesians 5:25
The husband’s responsibility to his wife is to love her. In the same way that Jesus died, not minding the pain and shame just to see that the church gets a new name and an elevated status.
He must be meek and gentle towards her as well, and this springs out of a heart of love.
“Husbands, in the same way, be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.” – 1 Peter 3:7
In the same manner, the wife is expected to love her husband and be subject to his guidance and authority:
“Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.” – Colossians 3:18
The Purpose of Marriage
So, the husband and wife have roles to play as God has commanded in order that their marriage be fruitful and can produce. They are to love each other and love God as well.
The understanding of the purpose of marriage as instituted by God is not natural wisdom, but man must know who God is before they can succumb to his ways and methods.
We must have a personal relationship with God, and a very strong one at that as spouses.
As a spouse, the assurance of your undying love for your partner is in your rootedness in your knowledge of God.
For it is only in him that we can see life and know the path to a bright and glorious destiny for our marriages and for our lives.
The bible in the book of Psalms says:
“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” – Psalms 119:105
It takes the knowledge of the word of God for us to walk uprightly, and we need to know more and more of his word every day if we want to do better not only in marriage but life in general.
