New Believers Bible - Flipbook - Page 118
off and running
how your faith affects the
daily aspects of your life
How many times have you heard the cliche, “They have a marriage made in
heaven”? This statement implies that some marriages are destined to be good,
while others are destined to be bad. Such thinking assumes that marriage has a
life of its own, and the only way to find out if you are to have a “good” one or a
“bad” one is to “give it a shot.” What most people don’t seem to understand,
though, is that marriage is like a mirror. It reflects what it sees. If a marriage is
strong, it is because the husband and wife have put a lot of hard work into it.
If a marriage is weak, it is because the husband or wife or both have neglected it.
God never intended for anyone to have a weak marriage. His design for
marriage is lifelong, fulfilling companionship. For a couple’s marriage to thrive
within his design, the couple must obey God and his Word and lay aside this
world’s distorted and perverse concept of marriage. The Bible contains truths
that will not only help keep a couple together but will also keep their marriage
strong. In fact, the lessons the Bible gives on marriage should serve as the
foundation of every Christian couple’s relationship. Whether you are married
or single, the following verses will give you a godly perspective on marriage
relationships.
1. God Created Marriage. We can learn more about God’s marriage ideal
from the world’s first husband and wife (see Genesis 2:15-25, page 4).
2. Husbands and Wives Have Distinct Roles in Marriage. A marriage
works when a couple follows God’s specific design for the husband and the
wife (see Ephesians 5:21-33, page 1068).
3. The Boundaries of Marriage Are to Be Honored and Enjoyed.
Sexual intimacy is meant to be enjoyed only within the bounds of the
marriage relationship (see Proverbs 5:15-20, page 546).
