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Larry Ray Hafley
Most weddings are described as "lovely" or "beautiful." A wonderful wedding
ceremony is no accident. It is the result of many hours of careful planning,
organization and attention to detail. That is as it should be.
However, we have parents who spend hundreds of hours to prepare for their
child's wedding who have never spent ten minutes preparing that child for
marriage. Perhaps that is why we have "lovely weddings" and terrible marriages.
If we would spend time teaching our children about the duties and privileges of
marriage, we would have fewer broken homes, broken hearts, and emotionally
scarred children. Instead, we invest several months and thousands of dollars in
a thirty minute ceremony which does not produce a marriage that lasts thirty
months. Would it not be better to have hastily arranged ceremonies than hastily
arranged marriages?
Am I arguing for sloppy weddings? Of course not! They can be pleasant,
inspiring, and encouraging, and that is good, but should we not also give
serious thought to marriage itself?
A good marriage, like a beautiful wedding, is no accident, either. As there
are certain laws or rules that one must follow to have a productive garden, so
there are principles that must guide the marital relationship (Prov. 31:10-31;
Eph. 5:22-33; 6:1-4; Col. 3:18-21; 1 Pet. 3:1-12). One may ignore God's laws of
nature and refuse to tend his garden. When he does so, he will have a great crop
of ugly weeds. So, one may not abide by God's formula for the family. When he
does so, he will produce frustration, unhappiness, bitter tears, sorrow, pain
and agony. If divine principles do not rule one's home, sinful ones will!
Is your marriage as lovely as was your wedding?
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