The Purpose of Marriage

Child bearing is not the primary goal of marriage. The primary objective of marriage is companionship. When God looked at Adam, He did not say, 'It is not good for Adan not to have a child.' He said that it was not good for Adam to be alone. God knows that man is a social being. Although there are times when people feel like being alone, the average man enjoys being with others. Man covets good companionship.

Think deeply about this: In the house, you are with the person; when you are going out, she is there; when you see something that excites you, you want to share with the person; if you are hit by sorrow, the person is the one near you; if you are passing through hard places, the person goes through it with you. Don't you think you need somebody who is compatible with you? Somebody who will have sympathy for you? You know some people could be unkind to you. When I was growing up and I noticed in the neighbourhood husband and wife fighting with the children around. It presented a pitiable picture of misery. Whenever I saw things like that I shuddered, and often concluded that if this is what marriage is all about,I don't want to have a hand in it. I had often prayed, 'God, give me a woman who will be worthy of my love.'I know I have a loving heart and I don't want to give my heart to somebody who will not value it. And I don't want to lift my hand and beat my wife.No way! I have never done it and I will not do it!

I have seen some women who were unkind to their husbands.I have also seen some husbands who were very wicked to their wives. But when you pray, God will talk to you and lead you aright. You cannot get it wrong if you follow God's leading. When you pray and the woman is high-minded or careless and fails to pray and she says, 'No, I don't want you,' you will know you are right and you will have peace in your heart because you love God. You will tell her, 'I know I am telling you the will of God. I will go and pray again.'Some women would even say, 'Don't talk to me again. I don't want to see you near me again.'By and by, God will deal with that woman.

Marriage can be compared with the love that pervades the Trinity. If you want to enjoy marital life, emulate God.

“When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:

“When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:

“When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:

“Then I was by him,as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;

“Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men”(Proverbs 8:27-30).

We have established in Genesis 2:18 that marriage is from God. Some have described the husband and wife as a couple. In Yoruba language they say, "Tokotaya”(husband and wife). Some languages are very strong in describing the relationship. You and your husband, are you really tokotaya? Are you really inseparable? In your thinking, in your action, in your decisions, in your likes, are you really inseparable? Are you really one?

A minister was teaching about marriage in Portland and he said he would not know what he could do without his wife. Can you do without your wife? If your husband travels, do you miss him? When your wife travels, do you miss her? If you feel comfortable when your husband or wife is not around, that is sufficient warning signal for you to go and pray.

If the companionship is what it ought to be, when your partner is not around, you feel empty. When he is not there, you feel weak. If you do not want to get married and you have settled it with God, Jesus will be your sufficiency. If you are married and you are not a good companion to your partner, you have a question to answer before God.