The Biblical Instruction for Marriage

Making love work is a hard job. But it is even harder when the Lord is not part of the process or when His instructions are not heeded during the process.

This was highlighted in the story of Bradley Gellert. Bradley was arrested last night wearing an “I ♥ My Marriage” T-shirt for allegedly choking his wife during an argument in their Tampa-area-home. If that was not bad enough, the T-shirt was a promotional item tied to the 2008 Christian movie “Fireproof” which centers on a fireman’s religious awakening and his subsequent attempt to save is failing marriage.

The biblical instruction for marriage is not that one person needs to submit to the will of the other person for the relationship to work, but that they both have to submit to God’s will. Note Paul’s instructions in Ephesians 5:22—28 (The Message):

Wives, understand and support your husbands in ways that show your support for Christ. The husband provides leadership to his wife the way Christ does to his church, not by domineering but by cherishing. So just as the church submits to Christ as he exercises such leadership, wives should likewise submit to their husbands.

Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ’s love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. And that is how husbands ought to love their wives. They’re really doing themselves a favor—since they’re already “one” in marriage. 

Making love work is a hard job. To enjoy love to the fullest, listen to its manufacturer.