Only a couple of hours after I agreed to write a blog on marriage, I logged on to MSN.com to get a quick news update. And there it was…headlined front and center in big bold letters “THE BEST TIME FINANCIALLY TO DIVORCE”.

Oh, that’s special. Really sweetens the image of marriage, doesn’t it? Imagine that spouse-to-spouse conversation: “Oh honey, let’s stay together a few more months. I heard there is a two-for-one coupon being mailed out soon, and the Smith’s are splitting up too!”

Has this Holy vow before God been reduced to a financial decision? I can only sympathize for those taking a flippant approach to marriage by attributing it to their ignorance of God’s value of it (Ephesians 5:22-33) or His hatred of divorce (Malachi 2:16).  Maybe they believe that marriage is created by man when he says “I do,” or created for man in order to live happily ever after.  Sadly, absent of God, marriage can be dwindled down to a financial convenience or maybe a commitment (until a better option is available).

The Bible says that all things were created by Jesus and for Jesus (Colossians 1:16). That means it’s not about us. Marriage not simply a pathway to our financial security or even our fulfillment.  Maybe you’ve heard it said, “It’s as much for our holiness as for our happiness.”  In Ephesians 5, Paul even likened marriage to Jesus Christ’s relationship to the Church! Certainly Christ deemed marriage to be much bigger than just the union of two people…shouldn’t we?

We are called as Christ’s ambassadors to be different…to be salt and light. And considering the condition of the common marriage today, I’m excited for the opportunity it presents to let Christ’s love and light shine through us. So be inspired by the gospel and the picture it provides of Jesus’ sacrificial love for His bride. I pray that my marriage continue to look more and more like this!

John 13:35 says Christians are identified by their love for one another. Would your love for your spouse allow you to be recognized as an authentic believer?