Spouse V's Family
Thursday, November 29, 2007
During a class assignment, we were asked to identify priorities of our life. The priorities included family, faith/religion, school, work, and such. However, when I said, "My wife," a debate with a fellow student developed over the difference of spouse versus the family. Separating these as two different priorities is vital in establishing a family legacy that is honoring to God.
Biblically, marriage is a solemn covenant bond between a man and a woman with God being the "bonding glue." See Mathew 19: 4-6. Within this covenant, the husband is called to be the spiritual leader of the home (head of house hold) and present himself to her holy and blameless. This relationship is to imitate the one God exemplified through Christ and the Church.
It is through this covenant that the husband and wife are entrusted with the gifts of children. These gifts are the continuance of a heritage; the future for other generations. According to Webster's 1828 Dictionary the family is :"The collective body of persons who live in one house and under one head or manager; a household, including parents, children and servants, and as the case may be, lodgers or boarders."
Therefore, a family is composed of multiple relationships. The first is the individual's relationship with God. The second is the covenant bond, the husband/wife and God relationship. The third is the family, which includes the marriage and any gifts. It is vital for a husband and a wife to exemplify the importance of these relationships. God reveals ways for the husband and wife to honor the covenant of marriage. Then, the marriage becomes a visible example for the children. If it is a God honoring marriage, the children will learn how to honor God individually and through marriage. As our children learn from this example, so will their children and grandchildren. These relationships become examples for generations to come.
Therefore, do not lower your spouse to that of just family. My wife is more than just family. The inside of our wedding rings reads "Became One 10-21-95." I must protect and build on our covenant marriage. The way I treat my wife teaches my sons how they should treat their wives. It also gives my daughters a way to measure who they shall court and marry. If I treat my wife as just part of the family, then it will be the children that she will focus every moment on, not our marriage. Again, the marriage is part of the family, but it is not just a family.
So, how does the marriage develop a Heritage of Honor? If you don't know, then read this blog again!
Posted byAnonymous at 11/29/2007
Labels: covenant, family, marriage, spouse
