SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE

(A Seminar given by Rev. Paul Ogechukwu Akazue on 14" May, 2006)

The Evolution of Marriage

“And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;

“And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one

flesh.

“And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed”(Genesis 2:21,23,24,25).

“And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.

“What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder”(Mark 10:8,9).

God's plan from the beginning is that the man He had created should not be alone. He decided to create a help meet for him.

“And the LORD God said,It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him” (Genesis 2:18).

That decision brought about the first marriage. As instituted by God, marriage is the union of an unmarried man and an unmarried woman. The man and woman must be free from any entanglement

from a previous marriage. In the sight of God, there is no dissolution of a marriage. The only thing that can terminate marriage is death. Although the law court may dissolve a marriage, in the sight of God,marriage is for better for worse, "until death do you part.”

When God has matched two souls together, they become one. They remain inseparable until God calls one of them away.If anyone is seeking divorce, he is an unbeliever; he is a sinner. Consider the making of the first family. How can Adam contemplate divorcing Eve when she was taken out of him? How can Adam say he would not love Eve when she was taken out of a rib closest to his heart? If we meditate deeply, we will realise that everything about marriage is mysterious, sacred and wonderful. Together, husband and wife are to enjoy the pleasure of life, share hardships and sorrows and be a comfort to each other. If marriage is entered into according to the will of God, that marriage must be blissful. But if you want to do your own thing, you want to do your own will, and you disregard the will of God with regard to marriage, your marriage may end up in failure. When people are asked what they think about marriage, some make very unfortunate statements. Some have said, 'It is a necessary evil,' while those who have done the will of God will tell you, 'It is blissful! God wants marriage to be blissful. God expects that you will be a comfort to your husband and your husband will be a comfort to you. God meant that both of you will live happily together and that if a storm should arise in your life, you will wade triumphantly through it.