"And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony." ~ Colossians 3:14
The Bible is full of so many great stories, from struggle to triumph and impossible to miraculous. The most memorable for me are the love stories. There are many different kinds of love stories in the Bible, including parents with their children, friendships, and loving your enemies, but I really like the marriage relationships in the Bible.
You have to read and study the verses closely, but there is so much to learn about what true love really means and how to remain committed in your relationship.
Ah, Abraham and Sarah – the couple that traveled together, caused trouble together, and dreamed big together! Imagine when Abraham first told Sarah they were going to move far away from their families (besides bringing Lot along) – this may have seemed welcomed at first, but moving away back then meant you were leaving for good. Abraham also let his insecurities and lack of faith get the best of him as he told Sarah to lie about who she was. Sarah became impatient waiting around for God and took building a family into her own hands. As a highly regarded Biblical couple, their story shows that no one is perfect. How many marriages today are broken up because of family stress or even infidelity? See Abraham and Sarah as an example of how God can bless your marriage if you stick together and learn to fully trust Him sooner.
"Just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith." (Galatians 3:6-9)
I think every woman today should desire their future spouse to be a Jacob. He adored Rachel and loved her dearly that he became her father’s servant and sacrificed years of his life to appease Laban. Rachel was not always happy in her marriage, especially since she had to share her husband with her sister Leah (yeah, this seems foreign to me and I can’t imagine this!). God didn’t forget Rachel but blessed her with kids when she cried out to Him. Jacob strongly favored his sons from Rachel and this created divisions between the kids, but Jacob and Rachel showed how marriage can still work when the situation is not the most ideal or fair.
Ruth and Boaz’s story is sweet and charming. After experiencing the death of her first husband, Ruth stayed close to her mother-in-law, whom she loved dearly. Boaz was attracted to Ruth’s loyalty and began leaving tokens of extra food for her. What man doesn’t try to make life easier for the woman he is trying to impress? Their relationship is one of servanthood as their love grew while serving one another.
"But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God." (Ruth 1:16)
You would think that being the parents of Jesus would have helped them create a strong bond from the very beginning of their marriage, but that’s just not how their story began. They were getting ready to become united in marriage when Mary became pregnant and Joseph knew this was impossible. God intervened and although they were afraid – especially of what their family and community would say – they knew that Jesus was going to be special. After surviving the first few years of Jesus’ life while moving to a foreign land for refuge, Mary and Joseph had a larger family and realized that Jesus was very special at a young age, maybe what many would call a gifted child by today’s terminology.
"And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her." (Luke 1:38)
The original couple in the Bible, Adam and Eve had many blessings to share in the Garden of Eden but ended up choosing a life of toil and struggle (sounds familiar, right?). What I admire about them is that they had to learn as they went and, yes, they had guidance and counsel from God, but they were setting the original standards. They had to learn their occupations from scratch – talk about inventing the wheel! One of their sons murdered his brother. Life was certainly not easy, but they remained committed and I believe they were immensely blessed because of it.
As you can see, all five of these love stories are so different, just as your marriage journey is unlike anyone else’s. There are many lessons to learn in each of these stories, but the biggest is that love is an action, not just a feeling. Sure, the rush of feelings that come with a new love can be intoxicating, but being a servant for your spouse is what mends your relationship and brings you closer to one another and God.
Article by Elise Cleary
I am a Christian writer and editor that lives in northern Michigan and thoroughly enjoy music, movies, TV shows, books, and other entertainment with a Christian focus. My favorite song is "Oceans" by Hillsong United because it reminds me that has big plans for me and everyone else who puts their trust in Him. There are many movies that have impacted my life, but a few include God's Not Dead, The Shunning, and Letters to God. I also write for www.faithandentertainment.com and love connecting with readers, so please don't hesitate to contact me! When I'm not writing I enjoy watching movies and laughing with my busy toddler and husband.
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