I.        INTRODUCTION

A.      The first home ever known to man was Eden, the magnificent garden made by God (Gen. 2:8-17).

                                                             1.      In this garden, God placed every good thing that man needed to be sustained.

                                                             2.      Never since has man known a more beautiful or satisfying home on the earth.

B.      Yet even in the garden of Eden, man was incomplete without woman.

                                                             1.      When God made His creation, He saw that it was all good (Gen. 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25, 31), but when he saw man alone, He said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him” (Gen. 2:18).

                                                             2.      Therefore, God made woman and bound her to the man in marriage (Gen. 2:19-25).  This made man’s home complete, for then everything in the garden was good for him.

C.      Because the first home was established in marriage, this lesson of the series “Building a God-Centered Home” will focus upon the subject of marriage.

                                                             1.      This lesson is intended to emphasize that a successful marriage must follow God’s design and that God-centered marriage is a vital element for married people to have a God-centered home.

                                                             2.      In this nation where marriage is treated as common and unholy, it necessary to properly exalt marriage as the holy, God-ordained covenant that it really is.

II.      MARRIAGE IS FROM GOD

A.      To have a God-centered marriage, God’s purpose and design for marriage must be understood.  Scripture reveals to us that God created marriage for several purposes.

                                                             1.      The foremost purpose stated by God for creating woman was to give companionship to man (Gen. 2:18-22).

                                                             2.      After binding the man and the woman in marriage, God commanded them to multiply (Gen. 1:28), so procreation is another purpose of marriage.

                                                             3.      Another reason that God made marriage is to provide a holy means of satisfying the natural desires of the flesh (Prov. 5:15-20; 1Cor. 7:1-9).

B.      It is also necessary to understand that the essential nature of marriage is a holy and enduring union.  This is because God is the one who has ordained it to be so.

                                                             1.      Consider Matthew 19:3-6.  When Jesus was asked about divorce, He returned to the beginning of man and marriage and quoted from Genesis 2:24.  He added, “Consequently they are no longer two, but one flesh.  What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate” (Matt. 19:6).  Several important lessons about marriage and the married home are taught in this answer by Jesus.

a.       By virtue of being created by God, marriage is a holy union.

i.         This means that it is a relationship that is set apart by God and for God and therefore is God-centered by nature.

ii.        Because marriage is holy, it is to be held in honor (Heb. 13:4).  No defilement, such as adultery or fornication, should be allowed to disrupt this union.

b.       Also, marriage is a lifelong institution.

i.         Because marriage is a work of God, no man should separate two whom God has joined together.  God is greater than man, and no man should presume to undo His work.  Only death should bring an end to marriage (Rom. 7:1-3).

ii.        The permanence of marriage gives strength and stability to the home.  God has wisely devised this, for the home needs strength and stability for the raising of children and endurance through the problems of life.

iii.      Marriage does not change.  Individuals who are married change, and their circumstances change, but marriage has the same meaning from beginning to end.

c.        Regarding worldly relationships, the Lord shows that marriage is the most important relationship in the married home.

i.         No other relationship is described in such intimate terms as “the two shall become one flesh.”  This indicates a unity that exists only between married people.

ii.        The importance of marriage exceeds any previous family relationships, for the Scripture says, “For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother and shall cleave to his wife” (Gen. 2:24; Matt. 19:5).

iii.      The importance of the marriage relationship even exceeds the importance of a couple’s relationship to their children, for the children will grow up and leave, but the marriage remains.

                                                             2.      This God-given truth about marriage is valid in every lawful marriage regardless of a person’s relationship with the Lord or the type of wedding ceremony used.  The worldly and civil aspects of marriage do not affect the nature of marriage in God’s sight, for He rules over all (Psa. 24:1).

C.      Marriage is also a covenant before God that is to be kept faithfully by both husband and wife.

                                                             1.      Notice that Malachi 2:14 addresses the husband, saying, “She is your companion and your wife by covenant.”

a.       A covenant before God is a binding agreement that is witnessed by God.

b.       Therefore, it must not be entered carelessly nor should it ever be broken.

                                                             2.      God creates the marriage bond, but the husband and the wife are required by covenant to keep it.

a.       Marriage begins with a bond formed by God, and it continues by the husband and the wife maintaining and honoring God’s work.

b.       Like the garden of Eden, marriage is a creation of God that must be kept and cultivated to bring forth its good fruit.

III.   HOW TO HAVE A GOD-CENTERED MARRIAGE

A.      In the upcoming lessons, we will consider the roles of husbands and wives individually, but at this time let us apply the formula that was established in Lesson 3, “Start With Yourself”:

                                                             1.      Commit yourself to God through Christ.

a.       A marriage in which both spouses are committed to the Lord is as strong as it can be.  As each spouse grows in the grace and the knowledge of the Lord, they will grow closer to one another.

b.       Even for a believer who is married to an unbeliever, his or her marriage can still be God-centered and holy because of the understanding and the commitment on behalf of the believer (1Cor. 7:10-16).

                                                             2.      Love one another.

a.       Both the husband (Eph. 5:22-33) and the wife (Tit. 2:4) are required by their marriage covenant to have love for one another, which is the quality of God (1John 4:7-8).

b.       Marital love has many forms and expressions that are essential to God-centered marriage.

i.         Love enforces the commitment of the marriage as demonstrated by the voice of the bride in the Song of Solomon – “I am my beloved’s, and his desire is for me” (Song 7:10).

ii.        Love gives the endurance to marriage that makes it last a lifetime: “Many waters cannot quench love, nor will rivers overflow it; If a man were to give all the riches of his house for love, it would be utterly despised” (Song 8:7).

iii.      Love is also the solution for the problems of marriage.  Although Peter did not directly address marriage, his message should be applied to every marriage: “Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins” (1Pet. 4:8).

                                                             3.      Understand your role in the marriage.

a.       Husbands need to understand and embrace their role of leadership, love, provision, and protection.  Wives need to understand and embrace their role of submission, love, and support.  Husbands and wives also need to understand the others’ roles as well.

b.       These roles will be examined closely in the next lessons.

                                                             4.      Use your influence for good.

a.       Believing spouses should consider what they can do to help each other improve in their service to God.  Few things are as encouraging as spouses who worship together.

b.       A believing spouse can have a tremendous influence on an unbelieving spouse, and many souls have been saved in this way.  Show your best example, pray, and be hopeful.

                                                             5.      Grow.

a.       Although marriage does not change, married people do change, hopefully, for the better.

b.       As married people have children, grow older, encounter problems, become parents-in-law, become grandparents, etc., they should help one another grow into these roles.

B.      By applying the word of God through this pattern, any lawful marriage can be improved and centered upon God.  Let us glorify God through our homes and our marriages.