Marriage is an institution established by God. Genesis 2:18, "And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him".
It is an institution with a difference. The only institution where couples don't graduate and the certificate is given at the matriculation.
In recent time, this institute has become quite difficult to understand by many individuals as a result of the modern day's practices that defile the will of God regarding the institution. People come in and out of marriage today at will. Whereas, marriage is designed to be a lifetime affair as ordained by God. Genesis 2:24, "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh". One flesh here means an inseparable entity.
Malachi 2:16 further shows the mind of God as regarding marriage, "For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away".
Marriage conflicts as seen today have its root in the fallen of Adam where the wisdom of God was replaced with the wisdom of men.
In contrary to the will of God, homosexuality is recently adopted in the developed nations as a legal means of marriage and a man is finally allowed to marry a person of same-sex, likewise the female counterparts. Without mincing word, this would bring upon the earth an untold hardship as was seen in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah. Genesis 19:1-25.
Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 7:1-40 actually addressed different scenario encountered in marriage and here are the highlights of the text as analyzed below;
1. It is expedient for everyone to get married so as to avoid the sin of fornication.
1Corinthians 7:2, "Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband".
2. It is recommended that none of the couples after marriage leaves the other.
1Corinthians 7:10, "And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband".
3. Although the woman is advised to remain unmarried if she leaves her husband or, rather, reconciled with her husband because she has no legal ground to remarry. The man, on the other hand, is admonished not to put away his wife.
1Corinthians 7:11, "But and if she departs, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife".
The tone of the scripture above shows that the wife could easily decide to leave the man, but this is not expected from man. Hence, the husband is told not to put away his wife. It does not matter even if the woman has left the man for whatsoever reasons, as long as she is alive, the man is still her husband. And, as a result, man is not allowed to remarry; else the man would be committing adultery.
4. When one of the parties is found to be unbelieving, the believing party is admonished not to leave. But, to stay with his/her partner because the unbelieving party is sanctified by the believing party.
1 Corinthians 7:13-15, "And the woman which hath a husband that believeth not, and if he is pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean, but now are they holy.
But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace".
5. It is necessary that you serve God in the condition which you were called whether as a married, divorced, abandoned, unmarried etc.
1Corinthians 7:18, "Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised".
1Corinthians 7:24, "Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God".
1Corinthians 7:27, "Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife".
6. To further buttress the subject of this discussion, Jesus Christ commented about the matter while He was asked in Matthew 19:3, "Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?" He answered and said in Matthew 19:8-9, "And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery". Please read this scripture carefully, then you will see there is no way a married woman will commit the sin of fornication. You will agree with me that fornication is a sin committed when an unmarried fellow is having sexual intercourse with a person of the opposite sex. While adultery is a sin committed when a married individual is involved in any form of an extramarital affair. Therefore, when Jesus said except it be for fornication, i think Jesus was simply saying this is acceptable only when the marriage is yet to be consecrated or, a period of courtship when the marriage vow has not been taken like in the case of Joseph before his marriage to Mary the mother of Jesus.
Matthew 1:18-19, "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily".
But, as for the married partners, this is a condition that is unrealizable which means you can not divorce your wife because she can only be involved in adultery, not fornication.
Mark 10:11-12, "And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.
And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery".
To crown it all, Jesus said in
Matthew 19:4-6, "And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder".
In conclusion, as a good Christian, the word of God must play a central role in your marriage. Do not give room to the wisdom of men when it comes to marital issues, it is always in response to the leading of the flesh which profits to vanity. Planning to get married to or starting to have an affair with another woman because of a misunderstanding, misconception or misinterpretation that has kept your wife away from you is a plan to commit adultery. Please beware!
Issues in marriage are of different types and can be very devastating. But, with God, the Principal in Marriage Academy, every issue can be turned around.
Call God into that crisis and you will share your testimony very soon.
May God intervene in your marital issues today in the name of Jesus.
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