Marital Matters

Giving thanks at all times for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to our God and Father, being subject to one another in the fear of Christ: Wives, be subject to your own husbands as to the Lord; For a husband is head of the wife as also Christ is Head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the Body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also let the wives be subject to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives even as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her that He might sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing of the water in the word. Ephesians 5:20-26

The teaching on the relationship between husband and wife has been a very common one among many Christians today. It is indeed a very needed teaching as well. In fact, many Christian wedding meetings have these verses in Ephesians 5 as the marriage sermon. I am no exception.  But I teach with the view of God's economy concerning Christ and the church. I go one step further to complete the point.

For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall be one flesh. This mystery is great, but I speak with regard to Christ and the church. Ephesians 5:31-32

Marriages are types of Christ and the church. Therefore, all genuine believers should live by Christ and the marital relationship should be that of Christ and the church.  As much as Christ loves the church, so much more husbands should love his wife; and as much as the church submits to Christ, the wives must submit to her husband. But there is a catch point in this teaching. That is the daily living by the life of Christ. Without the life of Chris, there cannot be the love of Christ lived out between husband and wife. Therefore, without the proper teaching on living the life of Christ in daily life, the teaching on marriage will only be doctrinal at best.

The reality and practicality of living out the marital matters mentioned in the Bible, especially in Ephesians 5 is by enjoying Christ. Because it is only by enjoying Christ that one can live out Christ. But the practical point is, how to enjoy Christ? Well, the Bible has given us some practical ways to enjoy Christ; prayer and the word. In a genuine prayer personally or corporately, one can truly enjoy Chris. In reading the word and praying over, musing upon the word, one can also enjoy Christ. Besides, I also discover that in fellowshipping with the saints, we enjoy Christ. Of course, the meeting of the church is another practical way to enjoy Christ. The more one enjoys Christ through any of these ways, he will live out Christ, and the martial matters will be solved spontaneously.

Of late, three couples' marriage matters have been fellowshipped with me. The best help I could render to these couples is firstly to pray for them, and secondly, to pray with them and minister life to them through the word of God on marital matters. Only the divine life can heal their wounds and hurts. I cannot and I will not be so foolish to even assume to think that I can help solve their marital problems. By the Lord's mercy, I do not have any issue with my marriage life as the Lord has blessed me and my wife abundantly in all aspects. But I do not take this as the ground to be able to help solve marital matters. It is the Lord who has been blessing my marriage life, and the same Lord only can solve the marital matter brought to me for fellowship. 

To all the fellowships brought to me, I dare not utter even a word of advise if I did not feel led by the Spirit to say anything on their marital matters; it is too sensitive, and it can be easily misconstrued. Though in some of these cases, I fellowship with my partner and coordinator, prayed together for these couples, and did have some fellowships generally with the view to supply both the couple with Christ as life to them.  The best we could do besides praying for them is to lead them to Christ and Him crucified, the solution to all the problems in the universe.

To date, all these couples are preserved; though they have been through stormy marriage lives; almost to the point of separation and divorce. But the grace of God is still keeping them together. And I have a strong faith in the Lord that all that we have been praying for, all that we have been ministering to them would dear fruits and all the marital matters would be resolved. They all would be healthy in their marital relationship and even become a living testimony for Christ and the church.

Marriages are ordained by God for the accomplishing of His eternal purpose through man in the principle of incarnation for His satisfaction, multiplication, and expression.

May the Lord preserve all the Christian marriages for His testimony as a type of Himself and the church! Especially, the ones brought to me for fellowship and prayer.