FOUNDATION OF SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE

The Bible in Hebrew 13:4 clearly declares that marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept pure. For God will judge the adulterer and the sexual immorality. From the above scripture, and the story of adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, one would not need to be pushed hard into believing that marriage is ordained by God. God himself was the presiding priest that joined Adam and Eve. God had compassion on Adam. He saw the loneliness Adam was going through and decided to make Eve to help fill that vacuum. God recognised that loneliness could lead to temptation and Adam could have been pushed to start moral relationship with the other creatures, thereby thwarting the plan of God. The scripture we read in Hebrew admonished that marriage should be honored by all, meaning that man has no excuse for adultery and fornication.

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1 Corinthians chapter 7 also talks much about marriage, here apostle Paul advices that since there is so much immorality, that each man should have his own wife and every woman, her own husband. He went further to advice that single people get married if they cannot control themselves for it is better to marry than to burn with passion . God knew it would be difficult for a man or a woman to be alone for too long hence he ordained marriage.

Therefore marriage should be desired by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled. God made marriage available and handed it to man. He helped the first man and woman (Adam and Eve) and He is still willing to help as many as would look up to Him for it.

Note that constructing a building requires careful preparation. Before the foundation is laid, land must be acquired and plans drawn up. However, something else is vital. Jesus said,

who of you that want to build a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? Luke 14:28.

What is true about constructing a building also applies to constructing a successful marriage.
Many say "I want to get married" But many stop to consider the cost? While the Bible speaks favourably about marriage, it also draws attention to the challenges that marriage presents (proverb 18:22, Corinthians 7:28) therefore, those contemplating marriage need to have a realistic view of both the blessing and cost of being married.

Constructing a building may be expensive, but caring for it long-term maintenance is costly as well. It is similar with marriage. Getting married seems challenging enough; however maintaining a marital relationship year after year must also be considered.

Marriage is for matured adult and not for boys and girls. Anyone preparing for marriage must be spiritually, physically ad emotionally matured irrespective of the age because marriage comes with its own challenges.

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For instance when there is delay in childbearing, and both inlaws are worried and suggesting some ungodly ways to savage the situation. or meltdown in the finance of the home, what about when there is constant misunderstanding. All these call for maturity both spiritually, emotionally and physically, otherwise the couple will be runni.g from pillar to post thereby opening doors for the devil and other external forces into the marriage to cause more damages.

A man preparing for marriage must have a SOURCE OF LIVELIHOOD (Adam had the garden of eden as his office and business place) He must have an apartment to call his own (be it rented or otherwise) because the bible states

that a man will leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife

Its not the advisable for a man to marry while still living with his parents. God knows our problems this will bring hence he says

leave father an mother and cleave to his wife

Marriage is not for a man who is waiting for a woman that would come take care of his responsibilities. The bible states that

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a man who cannot provide for his family is worse than an unbeliever… 1 Timothy 5:8

Likewise, marriage is not for woman who is not willing to make a living (no matter how small) proverb 31.

Eve was also assisting her husband in the Garden of Eden.

Thank you and God bless.
AW.