Proverbs 18:22 He who finds a wife finds what is good
    and receives favor from the Lord.

With the high rate of divorce, there are some who would dispute this verse. However, I am convinced that comes from a misunderstanding of marriage in the first place. I touched on this just a few days ago, but marriage must have mutual commitment, respect, intimacy, and forgiveness in order to be all that God intends it to be. For that to happen, we’ve got to be humbly yielded to God first, and then to each other. Right at the beginning of his famous treatise on marriage, Paul says, “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (Ephesians 5:21) Men tend to make a big deal of the following verse, that explicitly says the wife is to submit to her husband, but they overlook this verse. There must be a fundamental humility on both sides for it to work out as God intends. If the attitude toward God isn’t right, then the attitude toward each other isn’t going to be right either. In society today, the physical relationship often comes first and is taken for granted, trivialized even, without the commitment and respect that must underly it. It is tragic to go on the Internet and see girls bragging about their “body count,” when God created them for a committed, monogamous relationship. Men have tended to be that way from time immemorial, but they too miss out on a great deal when they fail to be emotionally and physically committed to one wife. The explosion of pornography has certainly contributed to the decline in marital satisfaction and happiness, and that’s another whole treatise. The devil hates marriage for many reasons, and he does all he can to tear it down. Having a Biblical marriage is an important part of resisting him. (James 4:7)

With a 55-year track record so far, I’m grateful to say that God has indeed given me a very good thing in my wife. As I tell couples consistently in marriage counseling, I consider marriage to be God’s 2^nd greatest blessing, after eternal life itself. I also tell them that it is the biggest job of their life, and it carries the greatest rewards. I have seen many tragedies that have come from one or both partners placing something ahead of their spouse. The most common things that become idols are job/career and children. However, retirement comes eventually, and children grow up and leave home. Misplaced priorities will always result in sorrow and loss. My children have been gone from home for many years now, and I have finally retired from teaching, but I’m still living joyfully with the partner suited for me, (Genesis 2:18) and I am deeply grateful.

Father, thank You for this reminder, and for Your incredible grace to Cathy and me. May we continue to be an example and inspiration to those who see us, so that the lies of the devil may be defeated in more and more homes, for Your will to be done for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!