Bible Reading: Psalm 144:1- 15
“Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.” – Hebrews 13:4 (KJV)
There are different types of vows. Social, business or religious. One of social vows is that of marriage. When a man marries a woman, they exchange solemn promises of what they would do for each other.
One of such vows is to love each other in health and in sickness; in wealth and in poverty. If these vows are adhered to, there will be less crimes and divorces than we have in the world today. With our marriage vows, we need to examine ourselves as to whether we are fulfilling it or not.
I read of recent of a young man that picked a cutlass and hacked his father to death while his mother was watching. The man ran all around the house and there was no help until he could not run again and eventually gave up the ghost. Why did this happen? It’s because there was no more love in that house. The woman had forgotten and abandoned her marriage vows. No matter what the man could have done, the vow that was made was without repentance. It did not matter if your spouse is not honouring his side of the vow. You should honour yours and in the process, you may be able to help your partner to honour hers/his.
Marriage vow is a solemn promise to love your spouse in all circumstances, so it is not conditional. Married people should therefore go back and examine where they are not fulfilling their vows and make necessary amendment so that they may not end up losing their inheritance. This vow includes fidelity. Hebrews 13:4 (KJV) says: “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.” Spouses should remember the vow of fidelity and do their utmost best to cater for their spouses.
A few years ago, I was speaking with a colleague of mine at work; then she had a problem with her spouse and I was always talking about my wife. Unconsciously, she said my wife was lucky to have me. But then she made a comment I cannot forget; she said, she must have laboured for it and I couldn’t agree with her less. “As you lay your bed, so you will lie on it.” So, what are you doing to lift up your spouse to the standard you want. Whatever you want your spouse to be, with love work on him/her to move to that point. It is a joint responsibility. That is why the bible says in Genesis 2:24 (KJV): “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”
Action Point: Examine yourself and identify which of your marriage vows you have broken. Ask for mercy and prayerfully begin to fulfill them.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero