SWEET TASTE OF MARRIAGE

Recently, we are seeing an alarming trend of people who look at the idea of marriage and say"What’s the point?” More than ever before, people are avoiding, redefining, and marginalizing marriage. They point to astronomical divorce rates, the social acceptance of couples’ cohabitation, and a lack of satisfaction among many long-time married couples as supporting evidence. Some experts are even saying that the institution of marriage is no longer personally beneficial or “good” for society. We firmly believe that marriage is a gift from God and is foundational to a healthy, thriving society. It matters more than we think. Here are seven(7) reasons marriage is still socially relevant, personally beneficial, and an inherently “good” for society:

1. Commitment in Real love: Love, by its very nature, is not a “feeling” but a Commitment, and marriage is the perfect expression of that commitment. Marriage is part of God’s “Master Plan” for healthy, happy families, and it provides a foundation of commitment anchored by love, which can weather the storms of life.

2. Healthiness: Statistics across cultures have found consistent trends that those in longterm marriages are more likely to live longer and have less health problems.

3. Foundation for a civil society: Since the dawn of world civilizations, societies with a strong commitment to monogamous marriage have been the most successful people groups. When marriages are strong, families are strong. When families are strong, societies are strong.

4. Provision of family security: There is a security within the covenant of marriage, this provides an element of protection (financial, physical, emotional, and spiritual) for the entire family.

5. Mirroring our relationship with God: The Bible teaches that the intimacy, unity, and sacredness of the marriage bond reflects that relationship God wants to have with us. Specifically, this paints a picture of Christ and His church (people).

6.Uniting a community: The wedding ceremony is a time-honoured tradition which provides a consistent point of celebration, uniting the broader community. Even beyond the wedding day celebration, marriage itself enriches and unites the community as a whole in unique ways.

7. Makes love make sense: Every love story that was ever written and every love song lyric ever sung have, at their core, expressed a beautiful longing which can’t be fulfilled entirely or perfectly expressed outside of marriage. Sure, you could have sex without marriage, but sex is all it would be. Within the covenant of marriage, making love creates a physical and spiritual oneness between husband and wife.

Marriage is a gift only God could have created. Trying to give full expression to love without God’s gift of marriage is like trying to fill our lungs without oxygen. Marriage isn’t out-dated, and it never will be. Whether you’re single or married, I believe we should all respect the countless benefits and celebrate the timeless beauty of marriage.

DAVE

and

ASHLEY WILLS.