Hebrews 13:4 Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.
This verse gives a word that must be shouted out to our culture. Marriage is being redefined and ruined today. God’s greatest gift to Adam was Eve. Marriage is God’s plan for humanity. Not everyone will get married. God gives strength through the Holy Spirit to those who remain single or who become single through death or divorce (see 1 Corinthians 7). There are so many benefits to marriage, they cannot be listed. At the top of my list is that I have a life partner, a sister in Christ, who helps me draw closer to God. Besides the gift of eternal life in Jesus, marriage is God’s greatest gift to us upon earth. Since marriage is God’s creation, it must be honored as God has designed it. Any deviation from God’s plan will bring heartache and defilement. There are many things that can defile marriage and I don’t need to list them. Humanity is very creative in how to defile and go against God’s plan. The author specifically lists immorality and adultery, two major issues in modern cultures. At the root of most of this is the desires of the flesh compelled by selfishness, pride, and arrogance against God. Because people listen too much to the world and not to God’s word, many marriages are ruined. How can marriage be honored? By following God’s design and by putting Jesus Christ first as Lord. That will bring happiness, peace, and fulfillment in a marriage relationship. Any deviation from this or lowering of commitment will bring pain and sorrow. For those who are married, we must do our best to honor God and honor our spouses by being committed first to God and second to him or her. Those who are young and not yet married, be wise in whom you choose as your spouse. Choose a strong believer who shares your commitments. It will bring a life of happiness. There will still be disagreements and tensions, but because you have God first in your married, you will be equipped to overcome these problems through love. To those who are single and do not plan to marry, support those who are married. Do not put a married person in a compromising situation where he or she will be tempted to sin. Support the married by praying for them and encouraging them. Equip them through discipleship so that their marriages will be strong.
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