Marriage

Love and Marriage. . . . I've been giving it a lot of thought lately. Is it possible to have both? In today's society it seems that all couples want both - they just don't know how to get it. Personally, after having been at this marriage thing for 24 years this July, I think I can say it is not only possible - but necessary!

Marriage is like learning a skill. You can read books and go to seminars (which I hope you come to ours) to learn skill sets that will help you have a strong marriage relationship. There are communication skills, personality tests, finance quizzes and many other resources to help you learn about your spouse. You can learn what words to say and how to say them. You can learn whether you are the spender or the saver of the relationship. You can learn to determine how your partners personality bends him/her in their emotions. So, can marriage be "learned" - yes, I think so.

So, now the question becomes - can "love" be learned? Is love a skill? Is love a state of being? What really are we asking when we say Love and Marriage? I don't think love can be learned - the attributes of love can be practiced - but love itself is something much deeper. It goes beyond our human mind and learning process. It requires us to "become" something.

There is only one definition that ever fully described in detail this vague word that we call love. Here it is, "God is love". I John 4:8 WOW - what a definition! Do you feel better about knowing what it is? Probably not. Now you see the dilemna. You have to "become" something - you have to become love. The way you do that is to become like God - you have to get the DNA of God. How do you do this? You become His child. He desires to have you as His child. He even provided a way through His son, Jesus. When you become God's child, you take on his attributes and characteristics. Pretty soon people begin to notice by the way you act and the way you talk and the way you think and they say, "Hey, isn't that a child of love?"

You can have "Love and Marriage" - it is not just a grand thought or wish. Get acquainted!

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is (springs) from God; and he who loves [his fellowmen] is begotten (born) of God and is coming [progressively] to know and understand God [to perceive and recognize and get a better and clearer knowledge of Him].
He who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love. I John 4: 7-8