Comments on: What About Obedient Marriage?

By: Sidney

Sidney — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 05:16:49 +0000

I don’t believe that marriage is intended to “help men with their ministries.” God is less concerned about our ministries than we think. God intended marrigae to fulfill his ultimate purpose, “to make us like Christ.” Two are better than one, the support, working of patience, matration in love, service, submission, developed in marriage are key! Don’t go and find a woman just so that she can work alongside you…find a woman that will love and support you…and one that you can love and support…so together you both with be more Christ-like on that glorious day!

By: Ashley Keen

Ashley Keen — Thu, 27 Oct 2005 19:34:59 +0000

This is a really interesting post. I suppose I have a unique perspective on this right now since I'm working on month four of twelve of no dating. It's kind of cool that I'm in a different place in life that a lot of the other people I'm graduating with. They seem to feel rushed to get married. When I was dating I felt that way, too. That was actually one of the reasons I stopped to start with. I had no other goals and I was quite selfish. I didn't want to wait for God's timing, I wanted to make my own. It think that that's what most disobedient marriages are all about. Even within equally yolked relationships, I think we sometimes push and maneuver ourselves into situations that make us vulnerable when we don't wait for his timing. A pretty smart guy, when I was still fighting with God about whether to actually swear off dating or to just try and keep a better handle on myself, pointed that out to me. Personally, I think that when you find the person that God has chosen for you to marry, they will have been expressly chosen to aide your ministry. Unfortunately, people in relationships will often feel like they've found the person that God has chosen long before they actually have. That's why it's important to stay fully grounded in God's will and remember than Eve was given to Adam, they didn't have to search around Eden looking for each other. Sidenote: Katrina!

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Wed, 26 Oct 2005 23:37:12 +0000

Relationships and ministry have to go hand in hand I think. A wise man (also my boss and the father of my boyfriend) told me once that the best way to met someone who is like minded with you in ministry is to:

1) Serve God

2) See who you’re serving with who is similar in their goals
3) Decided if serving together (in a relationship) is right for you

He said it much more eloquently than I ever will, but you get the idea. Yep, relationships are a struggle…but it is an amazing joy to be a helper and an amazing joy to see both myself and my boyfriend have success in ministry because our hearts beat the same way.

By: Katrina

Katrina — Tue, 25 Oct 2005 02:22:37 +0000

Alright, so I can post a random comment..but not an important one..let’s try this… CoMarriage may be meant to glorify God, but it is also a gift from God for us to enjoy.

I think that if you are called to ministry, then the person you marry is a very important decision…if you marry someone who would rather live a “normal” life, then you are definitely going to be torn between fulfilling what God has called you to do and what your spouse is wanting. So I agree with what you said…but also, keep in mind that marriage is still marriage– and love and attraction are involved. It’s not merely an emotional or a commitment thing, but also not just a formulaic thing.

Relationships, especially intimate ones, are infinitely complicated. Relationships with spouses, like our relationship with God, are probably the most complex.

And an interesting note on â??helperâ?- I guess the original word is â??ezer kenegdoâ? which all other times in the Bible it is used to describe God, when you need him to come through for you DESPERATELY. So helper is really too mild of a term. Just an interesting side note I learned recently :)

By: Jessica

Jessica — Mon, 24 Oct 2005 21:27:53 +0000

Here’s something that I heard a year or so ago: Only marry someone if you will serve God better together than apart. I think that this fits with what you’re saying. Interesting connection with Christ and the Church being His Bride to fulfill God’s purpose. I never made that connection before.

By: Becky

Becky — Mon, 24 Oct 2005 18:01:05 +0000

Chris,
This is my struggle with relationships, at the moment. When I wrote in my blog about the relationships in my life, I wasn’t talking about it being shallow, which is how it may have come across. I was talking about whether or not a marriage in my case would enhance my ministry. Whether or not God wanted me to be married to be more effective. I think that the biggest thing we all need to remember is patience. God will make everything happen when it needs to happen. Not when we want it, like spoiled children. I need to remember this more than anyone else, I think. I definetly agree with you on this. A marriage is only ment to glorify God, because everything we do is supposed to glorify God.

Becky

By: Julianne

Julianne — Mon, 24 Oct 2005 04:38:05 +0000

Very nicely said. Marriage should reflect the relationship Christ has with the Church. It is to be acted out by the example Christ has given us. If it fails to do that, we must rethink how we’re doing it.