The Gift of Marriage: God's Grace for His Glory

Marriage: A Gift from God for His Glory and Our Good

Are you swimming against the current when it comes to the desire for marriage? Do you find yourself resisting the idea of entering into this lifelong commitment? If so, you are not alone. Many people, like myself, have wrestled with the fear and hesitations that surround the concept of marriage. We may have seen others around us desperately searching for a spouse, but deep down, we are afraid of getting hurt. We want to avoid the pain and heartache that can come with marriage. Yet, despite our resistance, God continues to put the desire for marriage on our hearts because He has a gift for us.

In my own journey, I resisted the idea of marriage. I wanted to remain single and avoid the vulnerability that comes with being in a committed relationship. However, God had other plans for me. He kept nudging me towards the path of marriage, and I had to confront my fears head-on. It was a journey of faith, trusting in my Heavenly Father and His purposes for my life. And ultimately, I found myself saying "yes" to the gift of marriage.

But here's the thing - marriage doesn't always feel like a gift. It's not always sunshine and roses. In fact, it can be incredibly challenging and difficult at times. So how can we view marriage as a gift when it doesn't always make us happy?

To answer that question, we need to redefine our understanding of the word "gift". We often associate gifts with pleasure and happiness, but God has a higher purpose in mind when He gives us gifts. His aim is not our temporary happiness, but rather His glory and our ultimate good.

You see, I had a skewed view of marriage. I had bought into the cultural narrative of romance and sentimentality, expecting marriage to be a fairytale filled with roses and picnics. But as Paul Miller points out in his book, "A Loving Life," this romanticized view of marriage is like the Disney dream - it raises unrealistic expectations and ultimately disappoints when faced with the realities of human frailty.

So how do we shift our perspective and truly see marriage as the gift that it is? We need to put on God's glasses of grace and view marriage through the lens of His purposes for His glory and our good.

When Paul describes marriage as a "gift" in 1 Corinthians 7:7, he takes the focus off of ourselves and our own desires, and instead places it on God and others. He tells us that marriage is a gift of God's grace, empowering us through the Holy Spirit to participate in the advancement of His kingdom. Marriage is not just about our personal happiness, but about fulfilling God's purposes on earth and spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is a spiritual gift designed to extend grace to us, our spouse, and the body of Christ.

When we realize that marriage is about something bigger than ourselves, our desires for it become stronger and more aligned with God's purposes. We begin to understand that true joy and fulfillment come from serving and loving others, rather than seeking our own happiness. Our perspective shifts from a self-centered view of marriage to a God-centered view, and that is where true contentment and satisfaction are found.

But how do we overcome our weak desires and small dreams for marriage? How do we move past our own selfishness and embrace the true gift that God has given us?

C.S. Lewis offers some insight in his sermon, "The Weight of Glory." He suggests that our desires are not too strong, but rather too weak. We settle for temporary pleasures like drink, sex, and ambition when infinite joy is offered to us. We are like ignorant children who refuse a holiday at the sea because they cannot imagine anything better than making mud pies in a slum.

We need the grace of God to strengthen our desires and redirect them towards the true gift of marriage. This gift is countercultural and goes against the world's definition of happiness. Marriage, as a divine gift, is grace in action. It is an opportunity for us to experience more of God in our lives.

When we come to the end of ourselves and realize that we cannot make marriage work on our own, we surrender to God's grace. We acknowledge our need for His help and place our ultimate hope in Him and His word. It is at this point that we begin to see the true gift of marriage.

Marriage, when viewed through the lens of God's grace, becomes a means of drawing us closer to Him. It becomes a journey of transformation and sanctification. It becomes an opportunity to experience His love, His forgiveness, and His faithfulness in the context of a committed relationship. It becomes a reflection of the ultimate marriage between Christ and His church.

So, if you find yourself swimming against the current when it comes to the desire for marriage, I encourage you to reconsider. Marriage is not just about personal happiness or fulfilling your own dreams. It is a gift from God for His glory and our good. It is an opportunity to participate in His kingdom work and experience His grace in action.

As you embrace this gift, remember that it won't always be easy. There will be challenges and difficulties along the way. But when your hope is in the right place - in God and His purposes - you will find joy, freedom, and peace no matter the circumstances.

Marriage is not the end goal; it is a means to a greater end - the glorification of God and the advancement of His kingdom. So, let us put on God's glasses of grace and view marriage as the true gift that it is. Let us embrace the journey and allow God to transform us through the gift of marriage.