Honor Your Marriage

By

Shelby G. Floyd

April 2, 2006

 

     The value of marriage is to be held in honor and high regard.  It is not to be lightly esteemed nor treated with disdain.  From the beginning the marriage relationship has been highly exalted by God and God-fearing people. Almighty God honored marriage in the very beginning of creation when he brought man and woman together and immediately Adam recognized the woman as sharing his nature. (Genesis 2:23-24).

 

 Honor Marriage

 

     The writer of the book of Hebrews spoke of this venerable institution: “marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.”  (Hebrews 13:4). We notice that marriage is to be held in high honor and great respect. (1 Thessalonians 4:3-4). Paul instructed young Timothy that marriage should not be forbidden but should be received with thanksgiving.  (1 Timothy 4: 3).

 

Keep the Marriage Bed Pure

 

     Christian people should value their relationship with their spouse by not defiling the marriage bed with any kind of unlawful sexual relationships.  This would include fornication with unmarried individuals and adulterous relationships with married individuals.  Sodomy, prostitution, and homosexual acts all fall within the definition of fornication and will be judged by God: Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders.” (1 Corinthians 6:9).  Fornication and adultery are identified as the works of the flesh and those so engaged who are not repentant of such actions will not inherit the kingdom of God.  (Galatians 5:19, 21).

 

God Will Judge

 

     Our world of lascivious and lewd behavior may seem to be rewarded by worldly and shortsighted individuals. But just as surely as such behavior was judged by the flood in the days of Noah, so also will those be judged who dishonor their marriage vows before God. (2 Peter 3:3-12). “Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” (Matthew 19:6).