According to Pew Research, people marry for many reasons: Love, to have a lifelong partner, to bestow commitment, to have children, to formalize relationships, for financial security, or to gain other legal rights. Marriage seems to be in retreat globally, despite research that shows marriage and family to be the most effective place for childbirth and childcare. The pervasive desire for freedom and independence seems to drive people away from a covenant of love, marriage, and family. Jesus gave strong approval to the institution of marriage. When Jesus was asked whether divorce was permitted to break up a marriage, he based his answer squarely on God’s word spoken 000s of years earlier. Jesus said God made them male and female to be united into one. Then the Apostle Paul left us a formula that helps to stabilize a marriage relationship. Paul said in Ephesians 5, husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the church, and wives are to submit to their husbands even as believers submit to Jesus the Christ. Mutual love and submission to one another in a long term commitment can be a winning strategy to maximize marital fulfillment.
Dr. Melvin E. Banks, Sr. is the founder and chairman of UMI (Urban Ministries, Inc.). Under his direction, UMI has grown to be a leading publisher of Christian education resources for churches in the African American community. Read More
