Marriage

MARRIAGE
(Husband and Wife Relationships)

1. Marriage was instituted and designed by God.

"The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man." For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame" (Genesis 2:18-25).

2. The relationship between husband and wife is similar to that between Christ and the church.

"For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior" (Ephesians 5:23).

3. The husband is the head of the wife and the home.

"For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior" (Ephesians 5:23).

4. Husbands must love their wives as Christ loved the church.

"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her" (Ephesians 5:25).

5. Husbands must not be harsh with their wives.

"Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them" (Colossians 3:19).

6. Husbands must treat their wives with respect and as equal heirs of God's gifts.

"Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers" (1 Peter 3:7).

7. The husband must manage his own home well; he is the manager.

"He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect" (1 Timothy 3:4).

8. The husband and father is primarily responsible for training the children.

"Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4).

9. God's design for the wife is that of a helper suitable for man.

The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him" (Genesis 2:18).

10. The wife is to submit to her husband, as the church submits to Christ.

"Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything" (Ephesians 5:22-24).
"Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord" (Colossians 3:18).
"Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives" (1 Peter 3:1-2).

11. A woman is not to exercise authority over a man.

"A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner" (1 Timothy 2:11-14).

12. The Bible gives a description of a wife of noble character, who uses her gifts faithfully (Proverbs 31:10-31).

13. Husbands and wives must not fight and destroy each other.

"If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other" (Galatians 5:15).

14. Both husband and wife must quickly pursue peace when trouble arises.

"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift" (Matthew 5:23-24).
"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone" (Romans 12:18).

15. A house divided against itself cannot stand.

"Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand" (Matthew 12:25).

16. Keep loving those who are wayward.

(David never lost his love for his son Absalom, who tried to kill him. When he learned of his death, he wept). "The king was shaken. He went up to the room over the gateway and wept. As he went, he said: "O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you—O Absalom, my son, my son" (2 Samuel 18:33).