Word For Today: Everlasting Treasure

Marriage in general is the biggest, singularly most important commitment that a man and woman can make to each other. Contrary to popular belief, it represents two aspects of love: Eros or emotional affection as well as the legal contract that true commitment constitutes. It is not to be taken lightly and when practiced in its fullness, it is the most beautiful state of being that a couple can experience. Believe me, I know.

The sanctity and sacredness of marriage is tied up in the unfathomable love Christ shows man. The most tangible picture we have of this is the love and union between a man and woman. Again, marriage between these two is meant to be a mirror image of the unending adoration and affection that has Christ has for us. I know that my wife loves me because she puts my needs before her own as I do the same for her. This is exactly what Christ does for us all. Although it hurt Him to die, He did it anyway out of love.In 1 Corinthians 13:4, the Scripture says that

    “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up.” (KJV)

Love suffers long. Marriage and love is sacred in the eyes of God because it is meant to be a long term, unending union of commitment. And in no way inferior to that thought is the fact that submission, self sacrifice and a modeling of Christ’s love are all aspects of marriage that are absolutely necessary Ephesians 5:22-28

These thoughts sound good in theological theory but are better experienced in day to day practice. I have seen them alive and in action when I’ve fallen short of being the model husband.

In today’s world, the idea that marriage is a legal, emotional union designed to last forever can’t be stressed enough. Divorce rates are skyrocketing and a large number of marriages end in less than 2 years, if not 2 months. But we see in Matthew 19: 8-9 that the original plan for marriage was for it to be FOREVER. And not only was it not meant to end, but it was meant as a model of the compatibility of a man and a woman, of the responsibility couples have to reproduce godly family units and of the true dedication that real relationships need if they are going to be of any value.

Christ views us as His bride Rev 19:7. He loves us enough to want to present us to God without a single, solitary blemish Ephesians 5:25-27. He views our relationship to Himself as a marriage. Shouldn’t we do the same? Shouldn’t we treat our earthly marriages in the same manner and our heavenly one with even more intensity? Shouldn’t we treat God with the love and respect a redeemed bride would give her groom? The answer to those questions is a resounding yes, we should. Especially because when we do treat them such, we experience the most rewarding, most beautiful, most VALUABLE state of love imaginable. We experience the love of God.

By Garrett Ellis
CHRISTIAN BROADCASTING NETWORK