SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE AND GODLY FAMILY

MARRIAGE is instituted by God.The principles of marriage must be taken from the Bible to ensures it's success. Many marriages fall apart because husbands and wives do not know the Biblical concept of marriage. What does God teach about marriage?

Malachi 2: 14

"Why has God abandoned us?" you cry. I'll tell you why; it is because the Lord has seen your treachery in divorcing your wives who have been faithful to you through the years, the companion you promised to care for and keep.

Matthew 19: 5-6

and that a man should leave his father and mother, and be forever united to his wife. The two shall become one-no longer two, but one! And no man may divorce what God has joined together."

Ephesians 5: 22, 25

22.You wives must submit to your husbands' leadership in the same way you submit to the Lord.

25.And you husbands, show the same kind of love to your wives as Christ showed to the Church when He died for her

Proverbs 22: 6

Teach a child to choose the right path, and when he is older he will remain upon it.

Ephesians 6: 1-3

Children, obey your parents; this is the right thing to do because God has placed them in authority over you. Honor your father and mother.This is the first of God's Ten Commandments that ends with a promise.And this is the promise: that if you honor your father and mother, yours will be a long life, full of blessing.

Reflection:

Marriage is God's plan, not a human idea. The covenant of marriage calls for a lifetime commitment between the man and the woman until death separates them. It is a godly covenant that unites the man and the woman before God. And this unity must be preserved through the following commitment:

*** Unity in the Spirit --- must do the family devotion everyday

*** Unity in the Mind ...  must be honest and have an open communication... no secrets!

*** Unity in the Body ... must understand that sex and affection is from God's gift that each of them must enjoy passionately

*** Unity in the Vision .. must embrace the calling of God

*** Unity in Finances ... both must be a faithful stewards of God's blessings

Marriage is a responsibility.If both fulfill the functions God gave to each of them, the marriage will be strong and lasting and both of them will be happy.

*HUSBAND LOVE YOUR WIFE ... LOVE is the highest need of a woman

*WIFE SUBMIT TO YOUR HUSBAND ... RESPECT is the highest need of a man

*PARENTS TRAIN YOUR CHILDREN IN THE WAYS OF GOD ... parents are the first and daily teachers of the children in their formative years

*CHILDREN RESPECT AND OBEY YOUR PARENTS ...  this is a COMMAND with a PROMISE of a long life

Always remember this:

Ephesians 5:33

So again I say, a man must love his wife as a part of himself; and the wife must see to it that she deeply respect her husband - obeying, praising and honoring him.