Articles
Four Biblical Purposes of Marriage
Today, July 11, is our 52nd wedding anniversary. It’s been good—very good! I’m so blessed to have had Sara in my life all these years. “He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD” (Proverbs 18:22 NASB).
►Why marry?
The Bible offers two options: 1) being married or 2) remaining single. Each has its own advantages (1 Corinthians 7). Whether to marry is an individual decision. Peter, for example, was married; Paul was not. There’s a place for both in God’s kingdom. But if we choose to marry, we need to understand God’s purposes for the marriage relationship.
►Purpose #1: Procreation
“Behold, children are a gift of the LORD . . .” (Psalm 127:3). The sexual union as God made it is good (Genesis 1:27-28, 31). He created sex to be enjoyed by a husband and wife within the covenant of marriage. No other sexual relationship has His blessing (Hebrews 13:4).
►Purpose #2: Companionship
Before God formed Eve, He said of Adam, “It is not good for man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him” (Genesis 2:18). And He did! God made male and female different from one another biologically, emotionally, etc. Each brings something unique to the relationship.
►Purpose #3: Nurturing Children
Although many single moms and dads are wonderful parents, children thrive best when they have two parents who both model and teach God’s word to their children (Proverbs 6:20). Boys and girls need the complementary, synergistic male/female influence of both parents.
►Purpose #4: Avoiding Temptation
Paul distinguishes between those who have a gift for remaining single and those who would do better to marry (1 Corinthians 7:7-9). “. . . because of immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband” (v. 2). A couple should not deprive one another of intercourse, “except by agreement for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control” (vv. 3- 5).
Since God designed intercourse exclusively for marriage, it serves as the only legitimate means of satisfying sexual desires. Therefore, frequency of intercourse helps prevent immorality.
►God’s Plan
When we honor and observe God’s design for marriage, we will be blessed.
God genuinely wants us to enjoy happy, lasting marriages. And we can. He has told us how.
