Families Must Be Built on God’s Word (Part 2)

In Genesis 1:28, God blessed Adam and Eve and told them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it.” God commanded them as husband and wife to procreate. This is what being “one flesh” meant (1 Corinthians 6:16). God wanted an earth filled with people with whom He could have a relationship of love and fellowship. God’s people struggled with this throughout the Old Testament. The book of Malachi records one such struggle.

In the middle of a great family crisis among the priests, the prophet Malachi rebuked them for divorcing their wives, saying that God hated divorce and divorce caused violence against women (Malachi 2:16). God through Malachi reemphasized His unique purpose for marriage in Malachi 2:15, “But did He not make them one, Having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring.” God wants godly offspring from marriage. The unique purpose of marriage is for loving parents to have, shelter, and rear children so that they may become godly adults. It takes both a husband and wife being faithful to each other over a lifetime to do this.

God’s standard for marriage is high, but we can fulfill God’s purposes for marriage in our lives. This does not mean that we will be perfect. Families are messy. There are many things to learn along the way. We will make mistakes and need forgiveness, but God can still use us to make a good family if we are willing to give ourselves to Him. It all depends on our willingness to let God lead us no matter where that may take us, but with His help, we can do it (Philippians 4:13).

God bless you and I love you.
Kevin Cauley