The Loyalty of Marriage

Leading up to my sister’s wedding that took place just a couple of days ago, I begin thinking of some wonderful, Biblical truths of marriage.  Now we all know that it’s common to hear the Apostle Paul’s epistle to the church at Corinth used during the wedding ceremony, specifically I Corinthians 13:4-7, but what most of us might not have heard is specific attention given to several other passages in the Word on marriage.  Such passages that specifically highlight the significance and importance that God has placed on marriage. 

We first learn of marriage in Genesis 2:24 KJV where God joined together Adam and Eve, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”  The significant word here is “cleave.”  The dictionary defines cleave as “to adhere firmly and closely or loyally and unwaveringly.”  So we can surmise that marriage partners are to be unwavering in their loyalty.  The idea of clinging or cleaving to one another was again demonstrated in the book of Ruth to describe the relationship of Ruth to her mother-in-law Naomi.  As the story goes, Naomi had lost both of her sons, including Ruth’s husband.  Now having no reason to stay around, she charged her two daughters-in-law to return to their home town and start a new life, but Ruth in her loyalty “clave” to Naomi. Ruth 1:14 KJV What follows is a description of loyalty that is nearly unparalleled in the Bible. Ruth 1:16-17 KJV, “And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.”

Ruth describes such a passionate display of loyalty that portrays the power of “cleaving” to one another, not just in this relationship of mother to daughter-in-law, but in marriage as well.  Should marriage be any different than as described in this passage?  Ruth states she will never leave or stop following after Naomi, where she lives, Ruth will live also.  They will have the same friends, the same family, the same God.  Both will worship the Lord!  She concludes by saying that where Naomi dies, there she will die also and that only death will separate them. 

Even though Ruth was describing her loyalty to her mother-in-law, this same type of loyalty is necessary in marriage, “til death do they part.”  When did this become so trivial in our marriages that we could just throw them aside at the drop of a hat?  Our society is riddled with divorces and it only increases among those marriages in which one partner has already been divorced.  Simply put, divorce is a device that the Devil is using to destroy what God has put together.  “Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” Matthew 19:6 KJV The only chance a marriage has for survival in this world is to keep God as the central focus.  Without Him, our marriages leave open invitations for the world to attack.

Prayer: If you are a married Christian couple struggling to survive, struggling to keep your marriage afloat, turn to God.  It’s your relationship with God that needs work.  Let the one true Counselor have control of yours and your spouse’s lives.  Pray that the Lord continually works in both of your lives to draw you closer together in Him that you may be able to withstand the attacks of the world.

If you, your spouse, or both have not yet received Christ as Savior, please know that you are at a greater risk of divorce than those who believers in Christ.  Ultimately, your marriage and your family needs to rely upon the Rock of Salvation, Jesus Christ.  Turn to Jesus and cast all your cares upon Him, because He cares for you. I Peter 5:7

Additional Study: Ephesians 5:22-33 Hebrews 13:4 Proverbs 12:4

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Christian saved by grace through faith.

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