“I heard of a couple who, as they were paying for groceries in the check-out line, were discussing their soon to be 50th wedding anniversary, when the young cashier interjected by saying, ‘I can’t imagine being married to same man for 50 years!’ The wife wisely replied, teaching the young girl a lesson at the same time, ‘Well, Honey, don’t get married until you can’” (sermoncentral.com).
That’s very wise advice! It is also very biblical. A marriage is more than just a mutually beneficial living arrangement. Its not just something that will do until something better comes along. It is a covenant based on a commitment (Malachi 2:14). That’s why at least older versions of marriage vows usually included words like this: “I, ____, take you, ____, to be my lawfully wedded(husband/wife), to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.” Am I prepared to honor my marriage commitment when things get worse, when the money runs out, and when health begins to fail? Those are fair questions that everyone considering marriage should ask themselves.
I understand that marriages fail for a number of reasons, even for those who were committed at the start. God’s forgiveness and redemption is just as effective for those of us who have failed at marriage as it is for those of us who have failed at anything else. We are ALL failures in one way or another. But the remedy for marriage failure is not found in watering down the commitment.
“Until death do us part” should still be the goal. May we never view our marriages like a cell phone contract that allows for an upgrade every two years. We live in a “throw away” culture that doesn’t encourage hanging in there for the long haul. But in spite of our failures and cultural pressures, let’s encourage marriage longevity, not disposability.
God loves you!
Mike
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