TRANSCRIPT: Good morning, Five Minute Families! Our oldest is getting married this weekend, and we are seeing so many posts of June weddings! A strong marriage is the foundation of a strong family. At Clear View Retreat we enjoy supporting and mentoring marriages, watching husbands and wives grow in understanding of each other and God’s purpose for marriage.

Marriage is more than who we like or who makes our hearts pitter-pat the most. Marriage is an opportunity to mirror God’s image. Genesis tells us, “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” Today, let’s discuss five aspects of building a strong marriage which will mirror the image of God.

Marriage requires commitment.

God is committed to us. The Bible demonstrates this in verse after verse. Philippians 1:6 reminds us, “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” When we adopt God’s commitment in our marriages, we see that when the warm fuzzies have faded and chaos of life invades, true love – rooted in God’s example of commitment – allows a couple to commit again to one another. Then, the couple has the endurance and patience to continue to weave a life of one flesh as Genesis says we must.

Marriage needs compassion.

We each have different experiences and perspectives. We must have compassion and choose to better understand one another and the different roles we have in a Christian marriage. 1 Peter 3:7 tells us, “In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.”

A good explanation of that verse is from Knowing-Jesus.com: “Weakness [in 1 Peter 3:7] does not imply inferiority and nowhere in the Bible is this concept ever implied, which is why Christian husbands just like Christian wives are to live together in an understanding way. A husband is to treat his wife as someone who is weaker, because she is a woman and to show her honor as a fellow heir.” Men and women are equal in God’s kingdom, but we are created differently.

Marriage involves a third element: care through protection.

While we are husband and wife, as Christians we are also fellow believers. We must remember the numerous verses of one-anothering as exampled in Matthew 23:23-26 wherein we must practice justice, mercy, and faithfulness with one another, and in John 13:14 where we are encouraged to serve one another, and in Acts 2:42-47 where we are to learn, share, and worship with one another. In marriage, one way in which we one-another is to care for and protect the heart of our spouse. We must choose to avoid offending one another and we must choose to protect the marriage vows by avoiding placing ourselves in tempting situations.

Marriage needs consistency.

What’s that old joke? I told ya I loved ya on our wedding day. If it ever changes, I’ll let you know. That doesn’t really work, does it? No, marriage needs consistency. “Inconsistency creates turmoil.” 2 Timothy 1:7 reminds us, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” Being consist to share your heart and share Bible readings and studies, being consist to have some one-on-one time each week, being consist to be honest, open, and transparent with one another will create consistent results of a positive, God-honoring relationship.

Finally, remember that marriage needs consideration.

In Proverbs 21:9 we read that it is “better to live on the corner of a roof than to share a house with a nagging wife.” None of us want to be nagging the other. Instead we must adopt the attitude of Ephesians 4:2-3: “With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” When we stop to consider what our spouse is going through and how we can better meet his or her needs, we are reflecting the image of our Lord who never leaves us nor forsakes us. He guides us, loves us, holds us.

Thank you for joining us this morning as we begin a three-week series on marriage. If you and your spouse would like to get away for a Marriage Retreat, please check out our website at clearviewretreat.org/marriage. You would have your own cabin and a unique, affordable opportunity to invest in building a godly marriage. Have a great week, and God bless!

~Originally aired on WECO 95.5 fm/940 am Tues, June 9, 2020~