Relationships, Husband-Wife

Marriage—A God-Plane Relationship (Part Five)

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

A chief purpose of marriage and family is to teach proper, godly government, providing an environment to learn submission to authority and how to oversee others in love. In the ideal marriage relationship, the husband has authority over his wife and family, similar to Christ's authority over His Bride, the church. Love, as outgoing concern for everyone, forms the basis of this government, with Jesus Christ governing His church through sacrificing, sanctifying, cleansing, glorifying, nourishing, and cherishing it. These actions guide the husband, the head, on how to foster a happy, successful marriage. The husband's authority is balanced by loving care, while the wife's submission is ultimately met with glorification, producing enduring, harmonious mates, happy children, and righteous character. Authority in marriage, though often disrespected, must be wielded justly and fairly, balanced with kindness and concern. A couple should establish their own household, as remaining under parental roofs confuses roles and responsibilities intended for the husband-wife relationship. A definite break from life as a child to life as an adult spouse is necessary, allowing the man to be the head of his own household and the wife to have undivided loyalty to her husband. For the marriage to work best, a couple should set up their own home as soon as practicable, enabling the man to be king of his castle and his wife, his queen, without interference from parents or in-laws. Parents may offer advice or help, but the couple should be on their own to grow and develop the character needed now and for God's Kingdom. A couple should delay marriage until the husband can support his wife financially and emotionally, ensuring they are mature enough to establish a separate household.

Marriage—A God-Plane Relationship (Part One)

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

In the United States, marriage has faced numerous challenges over recent decades, contributing to its instability. The inherent difficulties of uniting two distinct individuals, each with unique sins and weaknesses, create potential obstacles that must be overcome. Communication problems often arise because men and women do not communicate in the same way, and they typically approach life differently—men tending to act first and think later, while women often let emotions lead. Diverse backgrounds, in-law issues, and childrearing challenges further complicate marital harmony, making many marriages prone to collapse. Marriage is not an easy proposition, yet it remains a vital part of most people's lives. Although God has not commanded everyone to marry, the majority are likely to take this route. After baptism, the decision to marry is the most significant one a person can make, requiring deep consideration both before and during the commitment. The marriage vow marks the beginning of a process of refinement and growth, binding husband and wife more closely while enhancing the development of holy, righteous, godly character. God created both men and women in His own image, establishing their equal potential before Him to be transformed into His image and inherit His Kingdom. Though equal in potential, they differ in mental, physical, and emotional makeup, with unique inclinations, skills, and abilities. Marriage, as a union of equals under God's authority, carries a spiritual and imperative quality, reflecting the God-plane nature of human relationships and the shared goal of becoming like God.

Marriage—A God-Plane Relationship (Part Seven)

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The biblical concept of husband and wife being one flesh is a profound principle originating in Genesis 2:24, where a man leaves his father and mother to be joined to his wife, becoming one flesh. Jesus Christ reinforces this in Matthew 19:6 and Mark 10:8, emphasizing that they are no longer two but one flesh, highlighting a deep unity beyond mere illustration. This one flesh principle, also mentioned in Ephesians 5:31 and I Corinthians 6:16, signifies a binding union, akin to being glued together, as the Greek word kolláo and the Hebrew word dabaq suggest, whether in marriage or illicit relations. God does not view the sexual union of man and wife as cheap; as Hebrews 13:4 states, marriage is honorable, and the bed undefiled, while fornicators and adulterers face judgment. Each intimate act further binds the spouses, making marriage precious. Beyond the physical, the focus of one flesh is on closeness and togetherness, as expanded in I Corinthians 6:18-20 and 7:2-4, where spouses are not their own but belong to each other, lacking authority over their own bodies. This unity means living, thinking, planning, and working as one, striving for absolute togetherness as the ideal. God expects married couples to work toward being so committed and in love that they function as a perfectly oiled unit. Marriage serves as a training ground to learn how to be one spirit with Him, preparing to be the Bride of Jesus Christ. Couples must pull in the same direction, like a yoke of oxen, straining for the same ultimate glory. God frowns upon a 50/50 marriage, desiring each spouse to give everything to the other, owning each other fully. As the Shulamite in Song of Songs 6:3 realizes, the ideal marriage is one where each partner is wholly committed, stating, "I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine," striving to live according to God's will with true love and outgoing concern for the other.

Relationships, Husband-Wife

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