PRE-MARTIAL COURSE OUTLINE
COURSE TITLE: GOD’S
PLAN FOR MARRIAGE
INTRODUCTION
Marriage
is an institution ordained by God. Marriage is not man’s idea, neither was it
initiated by him. It was God himself who realized man’s need for a companion
and addressed it.
From God’s perspective, marriage is
and should be a voluntary union of one man and one woman. For a marriage to be
within the plan of God, it must have all the ingredients and fulfill the
reasons as initiated by God.
WHAT IS GOD’S PLAN?
Genesis
2:24, Ephesians 5:31
(a) A man to leave – to separate from prenatal
home He and his wife are to form their own home, separate and district from
both parents.
To avoid interference, it is advisable
that the new couple live in a different home, away from both parents.
(b) A man to clave to his wife- to cling to, a
coming together and a blending of two district individuals into one.
For the union to thrive, parental
attachment by the couple should be discouraged.
(c) The couple to be one flesh – the union is
meant to produce oneness. Physical union of the couple enhances this purpose of
God and acts as a protection for both of them.
(d) The couple to be fruitful- fruitfulness is
all encompassing in God’s plan for a couple. It is His means of multiplying and
filling the earth. The issue of reproduction will be treated in another
lecture.
WHY MARRY?
There are several
reasons why people decide to go into marriage. However, the biblical reasons
for marriage are outlined below :
(a)
To solve the problem of loneliness –
Gen 2118, Ecc1 4:9-1
(b)
To set up a family where oneness reigns –Gen 2:23,24
(c)
To satisfy biological desires – Gen
2:25, Prov 5:18,19
(d)
To obey and fulfill God’s command –
Gen 2118
You
should be careful not to marry for unscriptural reasons such as
(i)
wealth of a person
(ii)
a result of pressure of age, friends
or family
(iii)
a show of sympathy or returning a
favour
(iv)
not wanting to miss out on a
particular person.
WHEN TO MARRY
Marriage, God’s
way, is not for person with childish minds. It is for matured minds because it
is a lifetime commitment with no escape route. Maturity must be displayed as
follows:
(a)
Physical maturity –you must be old
enough to take your own decision and not one tied to parents apron strings
(b)
Mental maturity- you must show some
level of intelligence by the display of wisdom, knowledge and understanding in
issues of life. It also involves ability to think before acting, and the inner
will to handle marital demands.
(c)
Spiritual maturity- you must show a
high level of faith in God in all situations in life. Your ability to live in
obedience to God’s word and give spiritual direction to your family is very essential.
(d)
Financial maturity – you must have a
legitimate source of income and able to provide the basic needs of the family.
Conclusion
The
success of your marriage depends on you allowing God to be the master planner
of your home. Secondly, its success also depends on what you d in it. Do all
you can to make it succeed.