Take a moment and think about your marriage. How would you describe your relationship?
Did any of your thoughts center around how you compliment each other? Did you think of ways that your strengths cover your spouses weaknesses, and vice versa?
This is what God says is supposed to happen. The main reason God created Eve, and by doing so marriage, is because "... for Adam no suitable helper was found."- Genesis 2:20. Meditate on that for a few minutes: The reason God created Eve, and marriage, was to give Adam a helper. A partner. Someone to share his life and work with.
Notice what God didn't create Eve for: She was not to be a boss. A nag. Adam's mentor or critic. She also was not created to be Adam's mother. Nowhere in Genesis 2 and 3 does it talk about Eve treating Adam like her child.
All of these negative traits are a result of sin. (We won't go into that here. We'll address The Fall next week.)
God created marriage to be a blessing for both men and women. God created the marriage relationship to be the most passionate, intimate relationship we have outside of our relationship with Him. Adam and Eve are the only couple in history to experience the perfect marriage. Sadly, even for them it was short-lived. Imagine what their marriage would have looked like:
Did any of your thoughts center around how you compliment each other? Did you think of ways that your strengths cover your spouses weaknesses, and vice versa?
This is what God says is supposed to happen. The main reason God created Eve, and by doing so marriage, is because "... for Adam no suitable helper was found."- Genesis 2:20. Meditate on that for a few minutes: The reason God created Eve, and marriage, was to give Adam a helper. A partner. Someone to share his life and work with.
Notice what God didn't create Eve for: She was not to be a boss. A nag. Adam's mentor or critic. She also was not created to be Adam's mother. Nowhere in Genesis 2 and 3 does it talk about Eve treating Adam like her child.
All of these negative traits are a result of sin. (We won't go into that here. We'll address The Fall next week.)
God created marriage to be a blessing for both men and women. God created the marriage relationship to be the most passionate, intimate relationship we have outside of our relationship with Him. Adam and Eve are the only couple in history to experience the perfect marriage. Sadly, even for them it was short-lived. Imagine what their marriage would have looked like:
Adam's perfect Christ-like leadership.
Eve's perfect submission to her husband's leadership.
Adam lovingly serving his wife with no expectations, just a beautiful expression of love.
Eve perfectly respecting her husband.
A passionate and loving sexual relationship.
(The reason why many theologians believe The Fall happened very quickly after Creation Week.)
Obviously none of us can have a perfect marriage. This doesn't mean that we all can't be working to make our marriages better every day. God's Word is full of direction on how husbands and wives are to carry out their specific roles in marriage. God has lovingly given us His marriage manual. The only question is: Will we listen to Him, and apply what He teaches?
Here are a couple of suggestions that you can begin applying today to improve your marriage:
Husbands:
- Love your wife sacrificially.
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her...In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.- Ephesian 5:25,28
2. Love your wife with gentleness and tenderness.
Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.- Colossians 3:19
Wives:
- Respectfully submit to your husband's authority and leadership as the head of the family.
Wives, submit to your husband as to the Lord. ...and the wife must respect the husband.-
Ephesians 5:22,33b
2. Have sex with your husband.
The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.- 1 Corinthians 7:3-5
The reality is that no one has a perfect marriage. Even Adam and Eve's perfect marriage was short-lived. That's not an excuse to be a selfish and demanding husband. Nor is it an excuse to be a nagging and cold wife. This reality is our wake-up call to get better.
Thankfully Jesus has lived the perfect life in our place. Through His Word, He empowers us to be Godly husbands and wives. His perfect life and resurrection gives us the power to get better every day. No excuses. Just do it!
God bless
Jason Fredrick
