By Pastor Josh Cocks, Beaudesert Baptist Church
Our family is growing.
No Jade and I are not expecting!
In the last six months we have had two weddings and gained a son and daughter.
It was a delight to be able to officiate at their ceremonies and of course share some embarrassing stories.
These I can’t repeat, but I was reminded of the significance of marriage.
It is far more than a cultural tradition.
It is a God-ordained covenant that is an enduring pillar of our society.
It is a sign of unity and loyalty where the joys and sorrows of life can be shared through love, faithfulness and commitment.
Marriage enriches society, strengthens community and influences the moral fabric of our nation.
It is under pressure!
We bring our own issues, expectations and weaknesses into a relationship.
Added to this are the external factors of extended family, financial constraint and changes in society.
Thankfully we have a guidebook that God has given us and there are a lot of verses that we can reflect on and apply.
All are based on the foundation of love – that God has first loved us and that we are called to love each other.
Perhaps the best summary of how this looks in practice is found in what Paul wrote to the Corinthians, ‘Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends’ (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).
Let us seek to live out this sort of love in our relationships – not only will it be a blessing for us and those around us, but we will contribute to making a better world!
