God Values Marriage

How does God consider marriage? Since the beginning of times God has respected and honored marriage and family, and He blessed it with a great vow. There are many reasons why God honors the marriage and considers it as:

It is good: "Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord." (Prov. 18:22). Marriage is not outdated, or old-fashioned. It is the greatest relationship, and is honored by God.

It is pure. In marriage, the bed is not defiled. (Heb 13:4) - it is wonderful, and a blessing, and just what God designed it to be. It is not to be a place of fear, or of wickedness, but of joy, and blessing (Prov. 5:18, 19; Song 7:7-12)

It is enduring: "The Lord, the God of Israel saith that he hates divorce." (Malachi 2:16). Only by seeing how God hates adultery and divorce can we see the seriousness of marriage (Mt 19:3).

It is a place of meeting each other‟s needs (1 Cor. 7:3-5; 32-34): The one person who is best able to meet your needs is the one who knows you best! The purpose of marriage is not to “obtain” but to “supply,” knowing your own needs will be provided for in the process.

It is built upon friendship, and communication: Marriage is not built not on requirements, and expectations. The marriage relationship starts with friendship, and is built upon trust. If a person‟s mate is not their best friend, then the foundation of the marriage is flawed, and can collapse (Song 5:16)

It is a covenant: Marriage is a binding (commitment) that makes it the priority of all human relationship in life (Matt 19:3-6; Gen 2:24). A marriage covenant is a compact between man and woman. In entering into a covenant, Jehovah was solemnly called on to witness the transaction (Gen 31:50), and hence it was called a "covenant of the Lord" (1 Sam 20:8). The marriage compact is called "the covenant of God" (Prov. 2:17), because the marriage was made in God's name.

Marriage is not an experiment, but it is a total commitment, and a total sharing of the total person with another until death. This most wonderful of relationships both confines and fulfills the human heart. God hold marriage with great respect and blessing. In the same manner, those entering into it or are in it must respect and cherish this relationship.

About The Author
Bishop Dr. Blackson Makhumba Banda is a Christian Life Coach, Marriage Therapist, Christian Leadership trainer, Church and Community Mobilizer, NGO/CBO Management Trainer, Bible teacher, author, and a serving pastor under Living Waters Church Int’l, where he is currently serving as the Principal at Wings of Eagle Bible College- Mzuzu, of the Living Waters Church. Before responding to a full time pastoral call, Blackson had served in various leadership positions as a young adult and church elder in Baptist and Living waters respectively, since 1984.
 
 Dr. Makhumba B (as is usually called) is also a founder and principal coordinator of Happy Family, Happy Church Ministry (under Divine Charisma Foundation), based in the northern region of Malawi (Mzuzu). He also has eight books in his credit; Why do Christians suffer, Life and Abortion (Counting the Cost) ; published by Gift of Faith in Blantyre, and The Personal Work (A handy book for a Christian Worker);published by Parables  in the USA, Mystery of A Happy Marriage, Shaky Foundations, Effective Communication, I know Who I Am, and Fearfully & Wonderfully Made