Marriage was instituted by the LORD GOD. The Bible tells us in Genesis 1:27 that the LORD GOD created man male and female. Later, He extracted the female out of the man. Then, He commissioned marriage: For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. Genesis 2:24. We need to understand what this reason is. Adam was enthralled when he saw Eve. He said: This is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman, for she was taken out of man. Genesis 2:23. The decree of the LORD GOD is that when a man decides to leave his father and mother and unite with a woman, the two automatically become one flesh, the perfect one flesh that He created. The reason is that originally, the woman was taken out of man. Marriage is a kind of restitution. Of course, sexual relation is an important ingredient of the set up. There is an important point that we must not overlook. The various marriage statutes tainted by various customs and traditions are man-made, and are intended to regulate human behavior as the location dictates. The onus of choosing your marriage partner is yours. You have to ensure compatibility before going into marriage. Once your decision is made, the decree of the LORD GOD is that the two of you shall become the perfect one flesh that He created. However, when one of the two engages in sexual relations with another person, that one forms an extra one flesh. That particular marriage does not any more conform to the decree of the LORD GOD. The perfect one flesh originally formed is no more perfect. This is the only ground permitted for divorce. Matthew 19:1-9. Marital problems arise because partners do not usually, first and foremost, consider the question of compatibility, before contracting marriage. Rather, one is attracted to the other for various reasons: beauty; height; legs; complexion; gait; bounteous bosom; hind quarters; exquisite figure; fame; money and so on. Consideration about compatibility comes up when it is already too late. And so, they separate what GOD has joined together. We have to consider what actually constitutes marriage, and the point at which marriage is contracted. There are various ideas about marriage depending on where you are. The Christians have there own idea of how marriage is contracted. Various customs and peoples have different ideas about what constitute marriage. Marriage laws vary from state to state, and from nation to nation. In short, marriage presents so many perspectives. This chaotic situation cannot be valid. It follows then that marriage is not defined by laws or customs. According to the LORD GOD, marriage is contracted when a man decides to leave his father and mother to unite with a woman. The two are joined together as husband and wife, irrespective of any law, or custom or ceremony or the absence of any or all. In case you are thinking of marriage, you will do well to keep the following in mind: Whether you are the husband or the wife, you need a partner that is compatible with you. If you the husband, you want a helper as your wife. And you wife, you want to be of help to your husband. |
