Topic — Love: A Principal Ingredient in Marriage (Part 1)
Dear Reader,
When God created Adam, He placed him in the beautiful Garden of Eden. Endowed with superior intelligence, God commissioned him to name all cattle, the fowl of the air and every beast of the field (Genesis 2:20). One thing was lacking, however. Adam had no companion to love and communicate with.
After God created Adam, according to Genesis 2:15, “then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.” So, Adam had a responsibility, a job that surely proved to be fascinating for him. Adam explored and learned all about the world—animals, plants, the beautiful and intricate variations of God’s creation. Not only was he learning, God gave him the privilege of naming all the birds and animals and other living creatures (verse 19).
Whether Adam knew it or not, God knew something was not right. The Bible says: And the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him (Genesis 2:18). Let’s think for a moment about why it was not good for Adam to be alone. He, of all the physical living creation, was without a helper at his own level (verse 20).
If Adam were by himself for any significant amount of time, imagine how he must have felt when he observed that even animals had their mates. Through Adam’s observations of the animal kingdom, in its masculine and feminine, he would have been constantly reminded that he was the lone human being on the planet. He was a male with no corresponding female.
To provide such a companion, God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; and the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he [or, builded] a woman, and brought her; unto the man (Genesis 2:21, 22). Imagine the surprise and joy of waking up to behold a beautiful woman! Adam called her woman because she was taken out of him. It was then that God stated the purpose of marriage – Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh (Genesis 2:24).She was bone of his bone, and flesh of his flesh. This began the institution of marriage in a relationship of love.
Love is never a magical, mysterious emotion that two people fall into or out of for no apparent reason. The truth is different: Loving relationships must be nurtured. They take work. Love is care and consideration directed toward another person, not just an ethereal emotion.
The work involved in building and preserving the marital bond is well worth the time and effort. Husbands and wives, who are committed to this positive process, often describe their mates as their best friends. This is simply another way of describing the kind of bond God desires for every marriage.
Husband and wife must learn to work together in marriage, showing respect and love to each other. Such an approach follows the biblical principles of wives submitting to their husbands and husbands loving and honouring their wives (Ephesians 5:22, 25; 1 Peter 3:1, 7). Establishing family in an atmosphere of love and respect gives the newly married a foundation upon which to build their life together
Love and marriage begin with having a relationship with God, the one Who instituted marriage. Do you wish to invite Him into your marriage? You need to be born again. This is done by confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your Saviour and Lord. If you are already born again, rejoice because your case is settled. If you are not yet born again and you desire to do so right now, please pray this prayer with faith in your heart: Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. I accept You as my Lord and personal Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for delivering me from sin and satan to serve the living God and thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.
Congratulations! If you prayed this simple prayer of faith with me, you are now born again and a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).
With this, you are guaranteed all-round rest and peace in Jesus’ Name! Call or write to share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org, 07026385437 OR 08141320204.
For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building a Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).
“Please click HERE to read other inspiring articles by Pastor Faith Oyedepo”
Pastor Faith Oyedepo is the wife of Bishop David Oyedepo, the founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide a.k.a. Winners’ Chapel, and Senior Pastor of Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, Nigeria.
