~ Marriage vows ~
What are some of the things God’s word says about marriage?
Marriage vows are between a man and a woman. (See Genesis 2:23-24)
Marriage vows made before God by the man and woman are to be kept.
(NIV) Matthew 19:3-6 “Some Pharisees came to him (Jesus) to test him. They asked, ‘Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?’
4‘Haven’t you read,’ he replied, ‘that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? 6So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.’ ”
Marriage vows are uniting two distinct individuals and making them one.
Marriage vows for the followers of Christ are to be with another believer in the living God.
(Amplified) 2 Corinthians 6:14-15 “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers [do not make mismated alliances with them or come under a different yoke with them, inconsistent with our faith]. For what partnership; have right living and right standing with God with iniquity and lawlessness? Or how can light have fellowship with darkness?
15What harmony can there be between Christ and Belial [the devil]? Or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?”
(NASB) Deuteronomy 22:10 “You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together.”
These two very different animals would be unequally yoked…and marriage vows for those who are followers of Christ have different motives, different actions, and different life goals from those who reject the living God of the Bible.
Marriage vows – for those who are single: what are your reasons for wanting to be married? Loneliness? Illness and needing a caregiver? Have a physical and emotional desire for another? Your friends are married? You want your way…no matter what God’s word states? What is your reason?
Marriage vows will affect your relationship to the LORD and those vows are symbolic of the followers of Christ to their relationship with Him. (See Ephesians 5:31-32)