The Heart of Her Husband Trusts in Her
Good morning. It is Thursday, September 30, 2021.
When I think back on my childhood, I want to say my mom and dad had a near perfect marriage.
They married in 1957. My mom was 2 months shy of her 17th birthday and my dad was 18. They had met at school and were madly in love. They were married 6 years before I came along. By the time I was born I like to say they had all their marriage kinks smoothed out and I was born into a very loving, caring, teaching, environment. I am the oldest of three girls. Until the age of 8 (my dad was killed in an airplane crash) I knew nothing but love. Yes, there was punishment when due, but I was never yelled at. I was always told in a calm voice what I had done wrong and why there would be punishment. I never felt unloved, even when spanked. I knew I had done wrong, and I knew there were consequences for doing something I had been told not to do.
If I were to ask my mom, I am sure she would say it was not without its problems and issues, but they loved each other deeply and worked things out.
Mom had a little trick. She said daddy like dinner ready when he got home from work. He worked in the mill all day and came home hungry. If she had been out shopping with grandma or for some other reason was late getting the evening meal ready, she would set the table. If the table was set, even if dinner was not ready, my dad would not have an issue.
A good marriage is a beautiful thing. I like to think back on the Garden of Eden when God created Adam and Eve. There were no bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girls or Bible boys, just the Creator.
Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said,
“This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.”
Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh…” Genesis 2:18, 21-24 ESV
What a beautiful, intimate story. Matthew Henry wrote, “Women were created from the rib of man to be beside him, not from his head to top him, nor from his feet to be trampled by him, but from under his arm to be protected by him, near to his heart to be loved by him.”
Marriage is not a man-made institution. God created marriage. “But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” Mark 10:6-9 ESV
Too many people do not take marriage seriously. Too many people refuse to work on issues and problems. Marriage can be work!!
In 1960, 75% of all households included a married couple, and 44% of all households included a married couple with children. The married household was the foundation of the nation. Today, just 49% of all households include a married couple, and just 19% of them include a married couple with children. Marriage is falling apart. – source: msn.com
That is such a sad statement. Marriage should be guarded and nurtured by both husband and wife. It is not 50/50. It is 100% by both partners.
Marriage is to be enjoyed. Ecclesiastes 9:9 tells us ”Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your…life that he has given you under the sun...”
It is good to marry someone with whom you share common goals and beliefs. 2 Corinthians 6:14 tells us not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers.
A marriage in many ways reflects God’s love towards us. “For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your sons marry…and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.” Isaiah 62:5 ESV
Mutual love and respect are paramount to a successful marriage. Ephesians 5:28, 33 ESV” In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself…let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.”
I have a dear friend who is getting married this evening. I want to wish her the very best!!! Marriage is a blessing. A gift from God to make our lives more fun, more joyful, more fulfilling, and much richer.
“An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her,…she does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.” Proverbs 31:10-12 ESV