Marriage

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GOD – OUR PERFECT MATCHMAKER
Genesis 2:18, 21-24; 1:27-28; Matthew 19:4-6; 1Corinthians 11:8-12

“And the Lord said, it is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him” (Genesis 2:18).
This Bible verse reveals to us the foundation of the institution of marriage. The Almighty God, being the Omniscient analyzed the totality of the life of man – his assignment, his spiritual, mental, and emotional make up, his predispositions etc. and concluded that “it is not good that man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him” He know that man would never be satisfied and fulfilled if left alone; and he knew that even man was intelligent there was no way he could provide a suitable helpmeet for himself. For this reason, “the Lord caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam …”(Genesis 2:20-24). God took the initiative to institute marriage without man’s knowledge. God decided to make a suitable companion for the man without any conscious contribution from the man. Our God is compassionate; His thought for us is how to make life better and more meaningful for us. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace not of evil, to give you an expected end”(Jeremiah 29:11). Even while we’re ignorant and unconcerned about certain things in our lives, God is mindful of everything that pertains to us and He is always making arrangements and taking steps that will be of maximum benefits to us.
Right from the beginning of the institution, there was divine-human relationship. That very partnership is still of utmost importance today to anyone who want to have a successful and purposeful marital life. God must be directly involved in every stage of the marriage process. Otherwise, the marriage will not be what God designed marriage to be. “Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it. …” (Psalm 127:1)
GOD’S PLAN IN INSTITUTING MARRIAGE
Genesis 2:18, 21-24; 1:27-28; Matthew 19:4-6; 1Corinthians 11:6-12
“This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be call woman, because she was taken out of man”(Genesis 2:23).
God never gives anything destructive or incompatible to those who wholeheartedly depend on Him in any areas of their lives. Therefore, those who are looking up to God in the area of marriage need not entertain any worry or fear bearing in mind that “every good gift and perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning”(James 1:17).
Marriage in particular is peculiar to our life on earth, not part of the need for eternal existence in heaven (Matthew 22:30). Yet, it is God permanent and perfect will on earth. Man is created as a social being to enjoy the marriage relationship on earth (Genesis 2:18, 24), to live in families (Psalm68:6), to rear children (Psalm 127:3), to live in local community (Numbers 36:5-9, 13), and to live in particular nation (Acts 17:26).
2. GOD PURPOSE IN INSTITUTING MARRIAGE
Genesis 2:18, 24; 1:27-28; Psalm 68:6; Ecclesiastes 4:9-14; Malachi 2:15; 1Corinthians 7:2-5; Ephesians 5:31-33; 1Timothy 5:9-14
“God setteth the solitary in families: He bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.”(Psalm 68:6). Here we see the two problems of man – loneliness and limitations. These were the problems marriage was design to solve. By setting the families in solitary place, God help man solve the problems of loneliness. Thereafter, He breaks the chains of restrictions and limitations in which the individual might have been bound
Marriage is fundamental to the stability and continuation of society; Marriage breakdown is a breakdown of society. Man is complete only in the unity of marriage. The wife is the fulfillment of man’s incompleteness. The objective and consequence of the marriage relationship is the growing together in unity of intellects, emotions, personality and spirituality of the partners.
3. GOD’S PROVISION FOR YOUR MARRIAGE
. Genesis 2:, 22; 24:7, 26-27, 40, 45, 48, 50-51; Proverbs 18:22; 19:14; Malachi 3:6; Psalm 37:3-5; Matthew 6:32-34; Philippians 4:6
“And the Lord God said … I will make him an help meet for him” (Genesis 2:18). God saw an important of need in the life of man and decided to meet the need. The word ‘make’ means to bring something out of nothing, to make the visible out of invisible, to make what is known from unknown. This is God’s area of specialisation – bringing possibilities out of impossibilities. Prophet Jeremiah adds this, “Ah Lord God! Behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee”(Jeremiah 32:17).
Many have been deceived and fallen into the error of self-management that they will never get someone to marry if they continue to wait for God’s leading. As a result, (1) they were misled by sinful suggestions and pressure from unbelievers and carnal Christians ; (2) making carnal choices, based on physical appearance, educational level, financial status, and superficial display of spirituality (without genuine conversion; (3) going into sinful marital relationship with an unbeliever or backslider in utter disregard to God’s commandment against such (2Cirinthians 6:14). One thing that is certain about self-management and its various forms of manifestation is that, in the end, the individual always has tales of woes and regret to tell. (see the examples of Abram (Genesis 12:16, 1-4). Ahaziah (2Kings 1:2-4), Jehoshaphat (2Kings 20:35-37) and Absalom (2Samuel 15:1-14;18: 9-17).
As a faithful child of God, you need not gives in to pressure or resort to self management because the same God who made Eve for Adam (even when he was unconscious of what was happening) is still very much alive and active today “Therefore take no thought … for your heavenly father knoweth that ye have need of these things”(Matthew 6: 31-32). God is very much aware of all you need to live a happy and fulfilled life. As long as you live for Him and lean on His word, He has promised to provide all that you need – including a suitable marriage partner. “For the Lord is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11).
As you patiently wait for God, the perfect March-maker, to give you a suitable helpmeet, rest assured that, very soon, He will provide someone about whom you too can proudly and joyfully declare: “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh”

Akinbowale Isaac Adewumi
www.devinehome.blogspot.com

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