Marriage has been called several things by different people, to the extent that if you’re not brave as singles, you’d be scared to enter into this holy matrimony which God has ordained to be enjoyed. Even though most couples remained married for the sake of it, there’s nothing worthwhile they mutually pursue.
Because God saw that Adam was alone, He made him help meet. We often think that the sole purpose of marriage is for procreation, companionship, and the avoidance of sexual temporalities. No thanks to the Roman Catholics who drafted that as the marriage creed.
But I will show you in a more excellent way what makes marriage enjoyable.
I told you previously the meaning of the FPL acronym. F stands for friendship, P for PARTNERSHIP while L is for lovers. Do not approach marriage with the mindset of husbands and wives doing those things that are read to the ears of those who attend the marriage ceremony.
You’d relate better as friends than as a husband and wife who are under an obligation to do what they must do. Am I saying couples don’t have roles to play in marriage? No, but they’d enjoy their union better when they interact as best friends.
More so, when they switch into a partnership mode, their marriage will be like an adventure that is jointly embarked on regardless of the challenges they might face.
Why is a partnership approach relevant to marriage?
Permit me to say this: God is a businessman. And before you crucify me, here’s my defense counsel: in Genesis 1, He said let Us create man in our image. Hold on a second. Why did He create man if He doesn’t want to partner with him on earth?
He wanted to partner with him so man can have dominion over those things He created on earth as He is in charge of heaven. As if that’s not enough. He kept man in the garden and gave him a partner to labor with him on earth.
Marriage is a partnership, not for partners in crime, but for partners who would labor for earthly and eternal relevance. Adam wouldn’t have needed a partner if he could do the work alone.
Partners labor for a cause – a mutual goal. This is why singles MUST discover their divine purpose before they yoke with anyone in marriage because you’re a partner to whoever you are married to.
If your partner does not head in the direction you’re going, you’d have problems in marriage. This is why you must marry for purpose, and not for pleasure.
And for married couples, strive to make your spouse your associate; involve them in your business, ministry, or pursuit. They may not be physically involved, but their counsel, opinions, and encouragement will go a long way to help you attain your pursuit.
Marriage becomes enjoyable when a husband and his wife labor together for the same cause. There will be a reward for their labor – especially when it is for a mutual purpose. When the husband falls, the wife would be able to lift him, and vis-a-vis.
There was a king in the Bible who coveted a man’s inheritance but couldn’t get it; his inability to possess it broke his spirit that no one could help him but his wife. Because they were partners, she encouraged her husband, devised a plan to get rid of the man, and lay claim to his inheritance. This is the power inherent in partnership when a man and his wife work together for the same purpose.
There will be cooperation, support, unity, and speed in achieving their goals.
Do you remember that scripture that says, “One would chase a thousand, and two shall chase ten thousand to flight?” Even if it wasn’t used in the context of marriage, it is relevant in it when the husband and wife strive for the same cause as partners.
Dear husband, you have labored so much to work alone without involving your wife in your pursuit. Train her. Equip her. Grow together so there won’t be a wide gap between you two. Don’t make her a dormant partner, or allow your PA or secretary to take her place. Make your wife your closest partner because no force can beat down the power of marital two.
When a man and his wife agree on a cause, nothing can stop them from achieving it.
Moreover, there are three kinds of partners in businesses: active, dormant, or nominal. Are you active in your partnership with God? He sought after a man who would partner with Him to bring the (revival) change the world needs.
No man or political party can bring the change we yearn for, only those whose hearts He has touched and they have partnered with Him can truly bring about the change.
Are you an active partner in God’s kingdom or you’re nominal, or dormant? If you do not partner with God, you’d be an ally to the devil.
God needs to partner with you through soul winning, intercession, and discipleship. Will you yoke yourself with Him in these?
As you seek to be a partner with your spouse is pursuing a worthy cause, ensure you occupy till He comes. It is in your partnership with Him that you can exercise the dominion mandate He has ordained you to fulfill.