ICS Daily Devotions
Is Your Marriage a Three-stranded Cord?
Life would be miserable if one has all the accolades from the corporate world but is void of meaningful relationships with God and our loved ones. During this COVID-19 pandemic, many are under stress from work and separation from our loved ones. We must therefore seize the opportunity to prioritize our lives in order to ensure that we will not miss out the times to rejoice and to witness all the important moments with our loved ones especially our spouses and children. We can never turn back the clock if we miss these opportunities.
Ecclesiastes 4:10-12 (NKJV) For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Genesis 2:18(NKJV) And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”
God created for Adam a helper comparable to him and for them to be one, not only in physical union but also in their goals, their directions, their wills, their emotions, their minds and spirits. “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh…”, said Adam in Genesis 2:23a (NKJV). This was God’s original plan and still is His desire for us today as couples. The Bible does not advocate homosexuality, fornication or adultery. One can only lie down with one’s spouse in order to keep warm in bed. A married couple refers to the “two” who are ordained by God.
For a couple to be as one, we have to understand marriage as a covenant where we have vowed never to leave nor forsake one another in the bad times and to enjoy the good times as a couple. This is modelled after God’s everlasting covenant with us. This is in contrast with viewing a marriage as merely a contractual relationship where there are rights, conditions and escape clauses. The contractual view of marriage presumes that the marriage will not last forever.
The contractual view of marriage is prevalent today because societies promote individualism strongly and it is all about us rather than about others. We are very self-centered in our ways and we are afraid to commit ourselves totally in a marriage. In an individualistic marriage, one or both spouses would put their identities, interests, and desires above those of the other.
On the other hand, a marriage covenant is more about trust than terms, more about character than convenience, more about giving than receiving. When we see each other as covenant partners in a marriage, then we will not harm each other in words and actions. We will ensure to carry out the vows that we have committed to one another. We will take time despite our busy schedules to listen to one another. We will also journey with our partner with all our energy, resources and wisdom to overcome any challenging moments in life.
Together with God in the marriage, it truly becomes a three-stranded cord that will not be easily broken. Just as God had intended for Adam and Eve to walk with Him in the cool of the day and be connected to Him like a three-stranded cord, we will also grow closer as couples as we draw closer to God.
Sermon Series: Year End (2020)
