Forget Not All His Benefits

In Ecclesiastes 9, we find these admonitions:
9 Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity; for that is your portion in life, and in the labor which you perform under the sun.
10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.

We can see that the marriage relationship was ordained by God and intended to be enjoyed.  Sure, there will be difficult times that will enter into a relationship but through the strength of the Lord, we can endure those circumstances that would divide us and experience God's love and unity.  There are so many benefits that come our way as we walk in alignment with His principles, and we can rejoice in the foundations that God has provided for us.

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In Psalm 103, we gain insight into the heart of God, who has an abundant life in store for us:
(1) Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:
3 Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases,
4 Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Yesterday, I gave an update on development concerning the issuance of same-sex marriage licenses across the state of Alabama.  In my comments, I shared three principles:

Number 1, God's way is best.  Plain and simple.  He has ordained marriage as one man and one woman, and this is an institution that has been a key building block not only for our society but for societies throughout the ages.  If we get out of alignment with His ways, then we face the consequences.  Gay marriage is a severe misapplication of God's truth.

Number 2, this is not an issue of intolerance, it's an issue of upholding what is right.  Some of the most loving things that we can do for people is to provide correction when they are wrong and to prevent errant behavior.  I would hope that we are driven by love and concern for the individuals or couples involved, and motivated by a concern for our society.

Number 3, we can be motivated to pray for our state and our nation, for our officials, and for the couples who have bought into the homosexual lifestyle and the agenda of so-called "marriage equality." There is much power when God's people come together in one accord - based on God's Word, we can pray for the renewal of the sanctity of marriage across our state and across the country. Pray especially for the U.S. Supreme Court as it considers how to handle this pivotal question.

Recognizing that God's plan is best, I want to move into some of the benefits of marriage, a foundational institution for our society.  I remember talking with Glenn Stanton and Leon Wirth of Focus on the Family a little over 2 months ago at the Fatherhood CoMission Summit at the WinShape Retreat Center, which, by the way, is a place where couples can go and be strengthened in their marriage relationships.  These two gentlemen have developed The Family Project,   Glenn talked about a "theology of the family," which is present throughout Scripture.   Here is a link to that entire conversation.

I referred yesterday to a Focus on the Family online series entitled, Marriage: God's Idea, featuring a number of contributing authors, including Glenn Stanton.  He begins his piece by saying:

Researchers are finding that marriage has a much greater impact in our lives than many have assumed. This is especially true in the area of adult health and well-being. Sociologist Linda Waite and researcher Maggie Gallagher explain, "The evidence from four decades of research is surprisingly clear: a good marriage is both men's and women's best bet for living a long and healthy life."

He quotes leading social scientist James Q. Wilson, who says:

"Married people are happier than unmarried ones of the same age, not only in the United States, but in at least seventeen other countries where similar inquiries have been made. And there seems to be good reasons for that happiness. People who are married not only have higher incomes and enjoy greater emotional support, they tend to be healthier. Married people live longer than unmarried ones, not only in the United States but abroad."

Stanton cites a study published in the Journal of Marriage and the Family that examined the link between personal happiness and marital status in 17 industrialized nations that had "diverse social and institutional frameworks." This study found:

"married persons have a significantly higher level of happiness than persons who are not married. This effect was independent of financial and heath-oriented protections offered by marriage and was also independent of other control variables including ones for sociodemographic conditions and national character."

Increased levels of happiness among the married was found in other studies as well.

These and other benefits were highlighted by Stanton, who also points out that marriage...

• Provides the highest levels of sexual pleasure and fulfillment for men and women
• Protects against feelings of loneliness
• Protects women from domestic and general violence
• Enhances a parent's ability to parent
• Helps create better, more reliable employees
• Increases individual earnings and savings.

This research underscores the validity of marriage and the importance of adhering to the principles of Scripture.  Even if people are not Christians, if they follow the teachings of the Bible, there are still benefits to be derived.  This can help us recognize that laws for society that are rooted in Scripture are a prescription for a moral, stable, functioning society. 

So, some thoughts for us today:  First of all, following God's laws or principles can provide order out of chaos.  We serve a God of order, and He has made available to us His wisdom in order to live our lives as individuals, families, and in the culture at large.

Also, God has given the tools needed to preserve and protect our marriages.  What wonderful opportunities we have as we live in our homes in the manner that He has intended!  He has given us His principles of sacrificial love and provided the power of His Spirit to live out His truth.

Finally, we can choose to experience the benefits of following Christ.  We have come to follow Him because He has extended His love toward us - we love Him and develop a desire to follow in His ways.  If we sow to the Spirit, we can experience the presence of His Spirit in us and walk in His mighty power.