Some of us who are in a relationship may be wondering what the prospect is like to have a lasting marriage. Others may feel or think there is no need to be married to have a relationship since divorce is so common these days. Yet there are others who hesitate to enter into a relationship because of the many known broken marriages and their sad endings.
Marriage is all about the bonding of two becoming one. Separation causes split and the tearing away of one from the other, leaving each with only half. What has once been joined together, unfortunately, cannot become two again without hurting deep within and this usually lasts a lifetime. Remarriage, while our former half is still alive, often ends with the recurrence of a non lasting relationship that creates greater hurts than before. This is because true love once given cannot be returned without hurt, and life as we know it cannot remain the same.
Recently, I heard a sermon on 'Keys to a Fulfilling Marriage' by an itinerant preacher Raymond Davey from Sydney, Australia. He suggested three ways of keeping a marriage: Truth, Trust and Tolerance, and five actions we can take to keep a marriage: Communication, Commitment, Companionship, Communion, and Completeness. This article is adapted from the principles shared by him which I hope will help those who are planning marriage or are looking for answers to a fulfilling marriage.
Ways to Keep a Marriage
Truth is about a husband and wife always being truthful to each other. We must not hide the truth from our spouse and we must never lie. Being truthful is important because our spouses have been given the inner spirit to sense untruth, and this can give rise to a breakup.
Trust is about a husband and wife trusting each other. If a husband and wife fail to trust each other, a divorce may ensue. If a spouse is unfaithful or is faithless towards the other, his or her spirit must take heed not to break the faith.
Tolerance is about a husband and wife loving each other enough to tolerate and forebear each other's differences. Differences can come from the way we think about something, the way we do things, our behavior and other areas. These can tear relationships apart if mutual love and understanding are absent.
Actions to Take
Communication is about spending time with each other, with our children and the family. If we do not communicate and spend time with each other to have heart to heart talk and do things together, before long our presence will not be felt, and eventually we will be ignored.
Commitment is about sacrificial love. If we love our spouse, we will be ready to do anything for our spouse, even to lay down our lives.
Companionship is about being there for each other to have and to hold, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part.
Communion is about our union in marriage, the dutiful honor within the marriage bed of undefiled wholesome union between man and wife only. Keeping this union undefiled and wholesome holds the key to a successful marriage.
Completeness is about keeping relationships prioritized in the following order: God, man and wife, family and children, work, ministry, and self.
No one likes a divorce, but that does not mean we should avoid marriage. We must take heed never to be faithless or to break faith or to deal treacherously. Marriage ties the two to become one flesh, so let all couples stay faithful to keep what has been joined together!
Marriage is all about the bonding of two becoming one. Separation causes split and the tearing away of one from the other, leaving each with only half. What has once been joined together, unfortunately, cannot become two again without hurting deep within and this usually lasts a lifetime. Remarriage, while our former half is still alive, often ends with the recurrence of a non lasting relationship that creates greater hurts than before. This is because true love once given cannot be returned without hurt, and life as we know it cannot remain the same.
Recently, I heard a sermon on 'Keys to a Fulfilling Marriage' by an itinerant preacher Raymond Davey from Sydney, Australia. He suggested three ways of keeping a marriage: Truth, Trust and Tolerance, and five actions we can take to keep a marriage: Communication, Commitment, Companionship, Communion, and Completeness. This article is adapted from the principles shared by him which I hope will help those who are planning marriage or are looking for answers to a fulfilling marriage.
Ways to Keep a Marriage
Truth is about a husband and wife always being truthful to each other. We must not hide the truth from our spouse and we must never lie. Being truthful is important because our spouses have been given the inner spirit to sense untruth, and this can give rise to a breakup.
Trust is about a husband and wife trusting each other. If a husband and wife fail to trust each other, a divorce may ensue. If a spouse is unfaithful or is faithless towards the other, his or her spirit must take heed not to break the faith.
Tolerance is about a husband and wife loving each other enough to tolerate and forebear each other's differences. Differences can come from the way we think about something, the way we do things, our behavior and other areas. These can tear relationships apart if mutual love and understanding are absent.
Actions to Take
Communication is about spending time with each other, with our children and the family. If we do not communicate and spend time with each other to have heart to heart talk and do things together, before long our presence will not be felt, and eventually we will be ignored.
Commitment is about sacrificial love. If we love our spouse, we will be ready to do anything for our spouse, even to lay down our lives.
Companionship is about being there for each other to have and to hold, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part.
Communion is about our union in marriage, the dutiful honor within the marriage bed of undefiled wholesome union between man and wife only. Keeping this union undefiled and wholesome holds the key to a successful marriage.
Completeness is about keeping relationships prioritized in the following order: God, man and wife, family and children, work, ministry, and self.
No one likes a divorce, but that does not mean we should avoid marriage. We must take heed never to be faithless or to break faith or to deal treacherously. Marriage ties the two to become one flesh, so let all couples stay faithful to keep what has been joined together!
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