MARRIAGE FOR LIFE

"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."  (Mat 19:4-6 KJV)

Marriage is supposed to last a lifetime. It is not to be entered into lightly or unadvisedly.  Understanding that it is God's desire for "two to become one,"  makes choosing a spouse a matter of eternal consequence.

Longevity in marriage seems to have been declining for the last forty years, but there is hope for future generations.  Carla and I just celebrated our 25th Wedding Anniversary this year and we are traveling this week to celebrate her mother and father's 50th.  We will be leaving Tuesday and returning Saturday.

Here are some suggestions for maintaining a lasting and lifelong relationship:

· Pick the right one [Two people who love God and His Word will have a better chance to stay together and be happy].
· Always seek the other’s welfare [Find things to do for each other that will lighten their load.  You want to keep them don't you?].
· Keep the romance alive [ Never let a day go by that you don't express your love to the other in a meaningful way.]
· Don't be afraid to cross stereotypical gender roles [The husband ought to know how to cook and clean, diaper and feed the babies.  The wife should learn how to trim the hedges, wash the car and change the oil, etc.].
· Make a pledge to each other to grow in love and in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

—Paul