THE BIBLE’S VIEWPOINT: Marriage

SOURCE
Marriage
Is marriage just a social union?

“What God has yoked together let no man put apart.”
​—Matthew 19:6.

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS
In the eyes of God, marriage is much more than a social arrangement. It is a sacred bond between a man and a woman. The Bible says, "Since the beginning of creation, [God] has made them male and female, so a man wants to leave his father and mother, and they want to be one flesh, so let God pull them together, let no one diverge go. "Mark. 10: 6-9; Genesis 2:24.

The words "what connected God" do not mean that marriages are made in heaven. Rather, the Bible, pointing to our Creator as the originator of the marriage arrangement, shows the seriousness of this union. Couples who see their marriage in this light treat it as a sacred, lasting bond, making their marriage a success. They increase their chances of success when they come together.

What is the man’s role?
“A husband is head of his wife.”
​—Ephesians 5:23

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS
For a family to work well, someone has to make final decisions. The Bible assigns this responsibility to the husband. But that does not entitle him to be an autocrat or a bully. He also does not allow him to escape his responsibilities, which erodes the respect of his wife for him and imposes an unnecessary burden on her. Rather, God expects him to work hard to look after his wife and determine her honor as his most intimate and trustworthy companion. (1 Timothy 5: 8; 1 Peter 3: 7) "Men should love their wives as their own bodies," says Ephesians 5:28.

A husband who truly loves his wife appreciates her abilities and talents and respects her views respectfully, especially in matters that may affect the family. He should not insist on his path just because he is the head of the family. When the God-fearing man rejected Abraham's healthy advice about a family affair, Jehovah God said to him, "Listen to her voice." - Genesis 21: 9-12. Abraham humbly followed and his family enjoyed peace and unity as God's blessing.

What is the woman’s role?
“Wives, be in subjection to your own husbands.”
​—1 Peter 3:1.

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS
Just before he created a wife for the first man, God said, "It is not good for the man to go on alone, I will make him a helper, as a complement to him." (Genesis 2:18) A complement is something that completes or makes perfect. So God created the woman not to be the man or to compete with him, but to be his counterpart. Together they could fulfill their divine mission of having children and filling the earth with their own kind (Genesis 1:28).

To enable the woman to fulfill her role, God gave her the ideal physical, mental and emotional qualities. Using them wisely and lovingly contributes immensely to the success of their marriage and helps their husbands feel contented and emotionally secure. In God's eyes, such a beautiful woman is commendable. Proverbs 31:28, 31.