The Crown of the Marriage Relationship

Homes are the Divinely ordained fountains of life. It is not by accident that people live in families, rather than solitarily. The human race began in a family, and Eden was a home. The Divine blessing has always rested upon nations and communities according to the measure in which they have adhered to these original institutions, and kept marriage and the home pure and holy; and blight and curse have come in the same measure in which they have departed from these Divine models – dishonoring marriage and tearing down the sacred walls of the home.

At the root of the home lies marriage. The married life is meant to be the happiest, fullest, purest, and richest life. It is God’s own ideal of completeness. It was when He saw that it was not good for Man to be alone that Woman was made and brought to him to supply what was lacking. The Divine intention, therefore, is that marriage shall yield happiness, and that it shall add to the fullness of the life of both husband and wife. It is His desire that neither shall lose, but that both shall gain.

Marriage is a Divine ordinance. It was part of the Lord’s original intention when he made Man. It is not a mere human arrangement – something that sprang up as a convenience along the history of the ages. It was not devised by any earthly lawgiver. It is not a custom into which men fell into during the early days. The stamp of Divine intention and ordination is upon it! And as a relationship, it is the closest and most sacred on earth.

To crown the marriage relationship, the presence of Christ should be sought at the wedding ceremony, and His blessing should be sought on every day of wedded life. Once a lady was writing a Bible verse on a blackboard for her little girl. The text was, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” Just as she had finished it, the child entered the room and began to spell out the words. Presently she exclaimed, “Oh, Mama, you have left out ‘Jesus!’” True enough, she had left out the sacred name while transcribing the verse. It is a sad omission when, in setting up their home, any husband and wife leave out Jesus. No other omission they could possibly make would cause such a great lack in the household. Without His presence to bless the marriage, the congratulations and good wishes of friends will only be empty words. Without His daily blessing on the wedded life, even the fullest and richest tenderness of true affection will fail to give all that is needed to satisfy hungry hearts. Without the Divine blessing, all the beauty, gladness, and treasure which earth can give to a home will not bring true peace.

Surely too much is involved – too great responsibility, and too many and too precious interests – to venture upon wedded life without Christ! The lessons are too hard to learn to be attempted without a Divine Teacher. The burdens are too heavy to be carried without a mighty Helper. The perils of the way are too many to be passed through without an unerring Guide. The duties are too delicate, and the consequences of failure in them too far-reaching and too terrible, to be taken up without wisdom and help from above!

Have you prayed for wisdom and help from the Lord Jesus so that His blessing may be the crown upon your relationship with your husband or wife? If you are not yet married, do you pray for His blessing to be with the person whom He has destined to be your future spouse; and do you pray that when His perfect time comes for you to enter into marriage with that person, He may be the Foundation upon which your relationship and your home will be built?

Please don’t hesitate to share your thoughts and comments on this article below!

God bless you and your family, this day and always.

All for our King’s glory,
Christian

photo by Kristin Arbuckle  |  Lightstock.com

This post is another installment of Miller’s Monday Musings, a weekly series that is published every Monday on my website. The series features selected writings that have been adapted from the works of James Russell Miller (1840-1912), a much-beloved Christian author and pastor who is well-remembered for his practical thoughts on Christian home and family life. Learn more about this weekly series by clicking here.