Marriage appears to be the most heavily attacked institution in the planet, next to God. Satan is out to destroy marriages using all sorts of cunning tricks, seductive traps, and deceitful offers.
God, however, has equipped all married couples with the grace that they need to make it work, and it's all available there at the foot of the cross.
The Priority of Marriage
Marriage is a sacred institution that God Himself created. In the garden of Eden He brought together the first man and the first woman, and gave them the reason for their union. We find this in Genesis 1:26-28.
"Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.'
"So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.'"
From this passage we find reasons why marriage should come before anything else.
God Created Marriage to Carry Out His Plan for All Creation
God created man and woman with the purpose of uniting them to pursue Him. Many marriages nowadays either forget or actually don't know that marriage isn't about the man or the woman. It's about God and His plans.
When God created man and woman, He was already done with creating everything: the sun, moon, stars, earth, land, sky, waters, seas, living creatures, plants and vegetation, and everything else. After seeing all that He had made as "good" (see Gen. 1:25), He then made Adam and Eve.
He created the first couple to steward the earth together. Not just the man, not just the woman, but together. She was his helper, and he was hers, too. They were married to do what God wants them to do. They were made to bear His image and be His representatives on earth.
Marriage Is Powerful
Christ-centred marriages are so powerful, but many underestimate it. There are some who see marriage as a lifelong curse that puts a noose on both the husband's and wife's necks. There are some who see marriage as a prison cell where both the man and the woman can't get out anymore.
But isn't it weird that the devil would see marriage as a threat to his plans, and thus does all that he can to destroy it? Think about it.
God created marriage to carry out His plans for His pleasure (see Genesis 1:26-31, 2:21-25).
On the other hand, Satan sees marriage as something he must destroy (he did it in Genesis 3, and keeps doing it today).
Christ Himself is the Bridegroom who will return to carry His Bride away with Him (see Song of Solomon, Revelation 22).
Talk about contrasts.
If we take a clear look at that, we'll see what marriage really is: a God-ordained union that is meant to please God, do the will of God, help one another become like Christ, spread the gospel as Christ's ambassadors, declare the mighty and victorious name of Christ over all the works of the enemy, and a partnership that will give birth to godly children who will rise up to love the Lord and serve Him with all their might. (see Matthew 28:18-20; 2 Corinthians 5:20; Malachi 2:13-16)
This is what I believe in. This is why my marriage comes first, before anything else.
I love my wife so much. Of all the men in the world, I alone have been given the opportunity and privilege to love my wife like Christ loved the church. You should love your wife, too.
