As OneSample

Married For A Purpose

Certainly, many of you have read over this passage when studying about marriage. We’ve even used this same passage for many of our online articles and previous devotionals. So, why do we keep using it? Because God’s Word is so rich! And, well, we’re so stubborn. I wish we could read His truths and just implement them into our programming, but it’s not that simple.

A growing trend in the younger generation is the questioning of marriage; why even do it, besides some mysterious tax break? Most dangerously, it can sometimes seep into the talk of some church members and Christians. My hope and prayer is that we never lose sight of why we marry. And, I’m sorry to disappoint you, but it has nothing to do with saving a little bit of money during tax season.

By verses 23 and 24, we should be getting some strong hints from the passage. Your marriage reflects the relationship between Jesus Christ and the Church. In almost every reference to how the wife should submit or how the husband should love, the church and Christ are mentioned in this passage. This isn’t simply a metaphor to help you get the idea; it’s a real thing that husbands and wives will reflect in their marriage. How you love your wife is intended to reflect how Christ loved, and continues to love, the church.

How does Jesus love the church? Well, He loves them so much that He went to the cross and died for their sins! He didn’t have to, but He did. What a perfect picture of the attitude that we should have as husbands for our wives. Sometimes men will abuse verse 21 to force the wife to submit to the husband’s every last desire. In actuality, what we get is a picture of sacrifice from the husband. You are to serve your wife to the degree that Christ served the church!

How backwards we have twisted the idea of submission in Christian culture and it's led to such sorrow for women who believe they must submit to everything their husband says. When you lead your wife to sin and outside of the will of God, she has no duty to follow or submit to you. You should probably be feeling the weight of that statement. Your decisions matter, and you aren’t free to live in sin and expect everyone else to follow suit.

You’re a picture; a reflection of Jesus Christ! Surely, we’ll fall short. If you aren’t having much luck with the lottery, you can take that bet and be sure that you’ll win. You will fall short. As we learned in yesterday’s devotion, your love will be imperfect, but Jesus has grace upon grace upon grace to cover you. Why do Christians marry? Because our relationship together has much more meaning than just love and a tax break, but a spiritual meaning that shines light in our world.

Uncommen Questions:

1. Why do Christians get married?

2. How does Jesus love the church?

Uncommen Challenge::

You’re married for a purpose and your relationship reflects a whole lot more than just your own love. Understand and live that out.

Scripture Reference:
Ephesians 5:22-31