The institution of marriage has been riddled with doubts and queries. The umpteen numbers of books and counsellors available today attest to this. But the faithful can find all answers in faith, and the Bible holds all the answers for those who seek.
Be it in the Old or the New Testament, marriage has been mentioned often in the Bible, highlighting the significance of the institution.
On the sixth day of the creation week, God created man in all his likeness. Subsequently, he made woman off the man’s rib. When God brought her to him, Adam said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.’ . . . Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:22-24).The first marriage, hence, occurred in heaven, witnessed and blessed by God. The institution of marriage was thus introduced by God himself as the ideal way for man and woman to coexist and aid each other. Though separate individuals, marriage means a communion. The couple shall live together in faith, rising in holiness and raising children of faith.
The union of man and woman is compared in the bible as the union of Christ and Church where Christ be the man and Church be the woman. As the church submits to Christ and Christ bestows his love, protection, and care to his bride, the Church, so must be the relationship between man and wife. It is a union, thus incomplete without equal participation; a holy companionship.
The Bible conceives marriage as a lifelong commitment. Every marriage happens as witnessed by the Lord himself and man may not break what the God has destined. There is no right or wrong partner after marriage. The Lord has willed in all wisdom and he is not wrong. Man and woman must find peace and haven in one another; it is a journey of forgiveness and unrequited love, of sacrifices and absolute dedication. Love should prevail and be predominant in this union. A Love which is clearly and beautifully described in the scriptures as “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (Corinthians 13:4-7)
“Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labour: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?” (Ecclesiastes 4:9) As romantic as the lines from classics and literature, Bible too gives us pictures of ideal romance; of love that never fails or gives up. Yes, a true union in marriage should be eternal and unconditional as the word ‘Love’.
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