A Marriage Made in Heaven
After almost 40 years in ministry, I have certainly preached a lot of sermons and handled countless situations concerning marriage. Here’s one thing I’ve found to be true: a marriage always starts as ideal but then comes an ordeal, and when issues aren’t resolved, one of the two ends up wanting a new deal.
I’ve also found that there will always be those couples who are never willing to be transparent about their marriage. They say things to me like, “Oh, Pastor! Our marriage is made in Heaven!” To which I always respond with this statement, “So is thunder and lightning!”
Marriage is no easy walk in the park, it is hard work. However, I’m convinced that there is a 100% success rate in marriage when it’s done God’s way. He created marriage and His Word gives clear instructions for how husbands and wives should care for one another and conduct their homes. Therefore, the solution to any problem in marriage can only be found in God.
The most unread book in the world is the car owner’s manual—it stays tucked inside the glove compartment from the time of purchase. But when something goes wrong with the car or the dash lights up with symbols, that’s the first place a driver is going to look for the answer.
The same is true for most Christians as well—the Bible gets neglected the majority of the time, but when tragedy strikes, people begin to search God’s Word for answers. God is the One who heals, restores, redeems, and gives purpose to all that has gone wrong in a marriage.
It’s not Oprah or Dr. Phil anyone should turn to for marriage help, it’s God, the creator of marriage, who has all the answers. And if you want to truly have a marriage made in Heaven, you must follow what God teaches concerning priority and pursuit.
When Genesis 2:24 says, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother,and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh,” it means to relinquish the highest position of commitment to your mate, the highest level of earthly relationship ought to be with your spouse.
God said that you must have your priorities right or your marriage won’t be successful. Your priorities should be God first, spouse second, followed by children, church, family, friends, and job. You will get in trouble when these get out of order.
It seems easy to keep priorities straight in the honeymoon phase, but once the children come along, it takes more and more work. If a couple isn’t careful, one becomes consumed with the children while the other dives headfirst into a career, and the next thing you know, the marriage is hanging on by a thread and they don’t even recognize each other.
Though difficult to maintain in different seasons of life, keeping the priority on your spouse will keep peace within your house.
Another key factor in having a marriage made in Heaven is pursuit. Many people believe the dating period is when the pursuit takes place and then the wedding day is the “gotcha” moment. The truth is that the wedding day is the beginning of a lifelong pursuit of one another. When Genesis 2:24 uses means for a couple to pursue energetically and cling to each other for the rest of their lives.
Oftentimes, people talk of divorce because of “greener grass,” but do you know how to keep your grass green? Water it! Cultivate and nourish your own yard and no one else’s will begin to look better. However, the problem is the world has told people the lie that love is a feeling, and when they don’t feel the love, they stop showing the love. 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 teaches that love is not a feeling but an action.
The greatest pursuit in history has been God’s pursuit of His children and the greatest act of love was Jesus on the Cross as He put humanity first for Heaven’s benefit. And if you long to have a marriage that withstands the test of time, you must choose daily to put prioritize and pursue your spouse. It will be hard work at times, but it will truly be a marriage made in Heaven!