Marriage is a covenant

Covenant marriage is a sacred and moral commitment between a man and woman

 The view of marriage as cov­enant is that marriage is a sacred union between husband and wife before God. Covenant mar­riage can be defined as a lifelong com­mitment between the spouses among evangelical Christians (Cade, 2010).

Marriage as a covenant is a belief that marriage is a sacred and binding agreement between two people (hus­band and wife).

Covenant Marriage is also consid­ered a sacred and moral commitment between two individuals (man and woman), which involves not only social and legal, but also emotional, psycho­logical and spiritual aspects.

It is a covenant, not just a con­tract; because it is rooted in a mutual promise to love and care for each other in a lifelong commitment.

This understanding of marriage emphasises the spiritual, psychological and emotional dimensions of the rela­tionship and sees it as more than just a legal or social arrangement.

The idea of marriage as a covenant has roots in religious traditions, such as Christianity and Judaism, which view marriage as a sacred bond estab­lished by God. In these traditions, the covenantal nature of marriage is seen as a reflection of God’s covenant with humanity.

However, human’s desires of pursu­ing life for themselves are challenging the purposes of marriage by God.

A marriage (Christian marriage) is much more than a ‘business contract’ between husband and wife. It is a life­long, exclusive covenant between two people (a man and woman), of which God is witness. He is present at every wedding! Jesus even says that, when­ever a man and woman marry, God has joined them together (see Matthew 19:6 and Mark 10:9).

Here are some Scriptures from the Bible that support the idea of Christian marriage as a sacred covenant:

• Genesis 2:24: “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”

This verse emphasises the unity and oneness of a husband and wife in mar­riage, indicating that it is more than just a legal or social contract.

• Malachi 2:14: “But you say, ‘Why does he not?’ Because the Lord was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your compan­ion and your wife by covenant.”

This verse refers to the covenant of marriage, indicating that it is a binding agreement before God.

• Matthew 19:5-6: “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined togeth­er, let not man separate.”

In this passage, Jesus affirms the unity and permanence of marriage, indicating that it is a divine institution established by God.

• Ephesians 5:31-32: “There­fore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the Church.

This verse compares the relation­ship between a husband and wife to that of Christ and the church, indicat­ing the spiritual significance of mar­riage.

The above Scriptures suggest that Christian marriage is not just a con­tractual arrangement, but rather a sa­cred covenant established by God and upheld by the couple’s commitment to each other and to God.

The concept of marriage as a cove­nant has a lot of merits. It recognises the depth of commitment required to make a marriage successful and encourages both spouses to take their vows seriously and work together to build a strong and lasting relationship.

Ultimately, viewing marriage as a covenant can help couples to approach their relationship with a sense of reverence, commitment, and responsi­bility, which can lead to a deeper and more fulfilling connection.

To be continued …

Source: Excerpts from ‘Preparing for a Happy and Fulfilling Marriage’ Book by REV. COUNSELOR PRINCE OFFEI (Psychotherapist and Marriage Therapist). https://counselorprin­ceass.wixsite.com/edu-counsel­ing-psych

https://princeoffei22.wixsite. com/website-psychologist

https://princeoffei22.wixsite. com/website

COUNSELOR PRINCE & ASSOCIATES CONSULT (CPAC COUNSELLOR TRAIN­ING INSTITUTE)