The original plan for marriage

For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. – Genesis 2:24, nasb

Getting married is easy. Staying married is more difficult. Why? Lots of reasons – unrealistic expectations, selfishness, our refusal to communicate and to forgive.

God didn’t put within your heart the desire to share your life with someone to make you miserable, but rather to fulfill the very purpose for which He created you. Let me explain.

First, God created Eve from a substance taken from Adam, which is why Adam, laying eyes on Eve for the first time, exclaimed that she was his own “flesh and bone.” She was a perfect match – same stuff he was made of, a compelling, irresistible attraction, not simply sexual but at a level that meant the emptiness in his life would be filled.

That old English word helpmeet used to describe what Eve should do is obsolete, misunderstood and implies a position of inferiority. To translate, the Hebrew word literally means helper suitable for him. Based on how the word is used in other contexts, it means matching him, beside him, opposite of him.

Scripture described this complimentary union as being “one flesh” – a powerful description of how each find in the other complete fulfillment and union. Reading your Old Testament you will find that the expression “bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh” was used to express a kinship relationship – a reminder that we have common roots and ancestors and, therefore, should live in peace and harmony.

It’s time to declare an end to the battle of the sexes and reconnect. Jesus looked upon married couples as one entity – not two people fighting to keep the other from taking advantage, but two unique individuals who complement each other in such a way that each makes the other a better person and each accomplishes far more because of the positive influence of the other.

Used with permission from Guidelines International Ministries. To learn more about Guidelines and the ministry, send an e-mail to [email protected]. You may also visit www.guidelines.org.