#1 – Companionship.
True companionship grows out of the oneness of spirit. Amos 3:3 (NKJV) “Can two walk together unless they are agreed?”
Companionship is about being good company for the person you’ve chosen to share your life with. Couples that are good companions are best friends. They don’t just love each other; they genuinely like each other too. And they enjoy spending time together.
Genesis 2:18 (NKJV) “And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper (companion) comparable to him.”
#2 – Enjoyment.
The principle behind enjoyment is self-control. Hebrews 13:4 “Marriage is honorable (of great worth) in all, and the bed (should be kept) undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.”
You, as Christian, should be the SEX-PERTS. Sex within the Marriage is both a privilege and a duty.
1 Corinthians 7:5 (NKJV) “Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”
#3 – Completeness.
God designed Eve to complete that which was lacking in Adam’s life. “And Adam said…She shall be called woman, because she was taken out of man.” (Genesis 2:23). This comes from sharing emotionally, physically, and spiritually. We need to share with our mates, not others, what is going on in our life and marriage.
Three quick reasons mates go outside the marriage to share: The other mate won’t listen. One mate feels that the other doesn’t care. Their mate knows them best and knows if it’s feelings or facts. (Your words and conduct don’t match). The mate who knows them the best could give them the answer. But they don’t want to hear it.
#4 – Fruitfulness.
God’s first command in Scripture is, “Be fruitful (Hebrew parah, make increase after your kind), and multiply (Hebrew Rabah, increase with exceeding abundance of children), and replenish the earth (Hebrew male, fill up the world to overflowing)…” (Genesis 1:28)
Genesis 3:20 (NKJV) “And Adam called his wife Eve because she was the mother of all living.”
The very word Eve MEANS “Life-giver.” The wife is the one who brings life into the family. She helps make it a little heaven or hell. Life-givers bring children into the home and help fulfill her purpose.
#5 – Protection.
The husband is to protect the wife by laying down his life for her (See Ephesians 5:25). The wife is to protect the home (See Titus 2:4-5). Parents are to protect their children, to raise up a Godly seed (See Malachi 2:25; Psalm 112:1-2).
#6 – Typify Christ and the Church.
Marriage is to be a human object lesson of the divine relationship between Christ and believers (See Ephesians 5:31-33).
Ephesians 5:31-33 (NKJV) “For this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless, let each one of you in particular so love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.”
Each mate is a type of Christ in the home!
Love is not so much a duty, but a delight, it's not so much a feeling as a fact, it's a decision that leads to the right actions over and over until the feelings come. Love is the right decision put into action over and over again that will then lead to the right feelings. You can't feel your way into love, but you can act your way into love.
It's not a decision that makes a great decision...it's what you do after. Learn insights from 50 years of marriage. Through this book. I hope your marriage and relationships go from ordinary to extraordinary.
Pastor James Greer