For the past few weeks, we’ve been focusing on the subject of marriage—its origin and its purpose. Now, let’s move on to the third and final question: what are the keys to a God-glorifying marriage? For that’s what God intends. He wants marriage to glorify Him. So, how do we do that? How do we make sure that our marriages are what God intended them to be? God has entrusted us with our spouses, and we need to be faithful.
Entrusted by God
If I just think of marriage as a cultural construct, an institution that evolved out of some kind of necessity through time, then of course, I will feel free to walk in and out of marriage as often as I want. If it’s not convenient, if it’s not working for me anymore, then I’m just going to dispense with it. But if I remember that my spouse wasn’t given to me to treat any old way I want, that my relationship has been entrusted to me by God and I will stand before Him to give an account, I will behave in an entirely different way.
On Loan From God
I am amazed at how often people fail to realize this truth. We are all going to die. There is no exception. I’ve often thought about the guy who abuses his wife. What is it going to look like on that day when he stands before God to give an account, because he surely will! We have to take that into consideration. And we will only do that if we recognize that our marriage is a stewardship. A steward is someone who has management over someone else’s property. And God has lent our spouses to us for a time; He has entrusted them into our care, and He expects us to take care of them properly and faithfully. If we think in those terms, then that will lead to a marriage which glorifies God.