Genesis 2:18-25

How does one define marriage?

• Well, to some – it is “the quickest way to kill a good romance.”
• To a live-in girlfriend, it might be a piece of paper that guarantees she will get some money for all the time she invested in a bad relationship.
• To others it is the answer to most of their problems – and still others it is where most of the problems began.

Turning to our first reading, however, we find that God conducted the first wedding in the Garden of Eden. Hence, we find this possible definition: It is the union of one man and one woman by the will of God into a growing relationship of love for life.

Biblically speaking, marriage fulfills four purposes God has for mankind.

• The first is to populate the earth. In Genesis 1:28 God tells Adam and Eve to “be fruitful and multiply.”
• The second is to avoid loneliness. In our opening verse we find that for the first time in the creation account something is NOT good. God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.”
• The third purpose is to satisfy sexual desires. In 1 Corinthians 7:9 Paul says, “. . .it is better to marry than to burn with passion.”
• And the fourth is to build character so as to produce godly children. This is found in Malachi 2:15, “Has not the Lord made them one?” And why one? Because He was seeking godly offspring.”

Of course, one of the the most damaging situations for any relationship is one’s own demeanor. If one is content or happy with their own life, then they will most likely extend that contentment or happiness into the relationship.

And it is also true that most relationships benefit from both persons bringing this type of attitude into the relationship.

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