Marriage is permanent

Jesus said to them, ‘Moses wrote this law for you because you are so hard to teach. But in the beginning, at the time of creation, “God made them male and female”, as the scripture says. “And for this reason a man will leave his father and mother and unite with his wife, and the two will become one.” So they are no longer two, but one. No human being must separate, then, what God has joined together.’   (verses 5-9)

Read Mark 10:1-16

In today’s reading Jesus deals with two topics, the permanency of marriage, and bringing children to Jesus. The two are connected. Many Christian parents today are saddened that their children no longer walk with the Lord. How much more common this is when marriages break down!

That brings home to us one reason for the permanency of marriage. Other reasons could be listed.

However, married people also know the truth of Jesus’ words about being ‘hard to teach’, or ‘hard of heart’ as others translate. Both partners in marriage are hard-hearted. Difficulties in marriage come from our hard hearts.

We need this reminder of the permanency of marriage. We don’t always see as God does the blessings of keeping our marriage vows. We need God’s command to keep us working on our marriage. We also need the reassurance in Jesus’ words that God is for marriage. He gave us this gift.

Gracious Father, we know you love us, even when we fail, and also when we fail in marriage. Thank you for your ongoing love in the ‘better and worse’ of marriage and in our failures. Amen.

by Ray Schulz, in ‘New Strength for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 1998)

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