Greg Laurie tells the story of a pastor who was teaching a Sunday School class dealing with marriage who asked this question, “Can anyone think of a Bible verse about being married?”
A little boy raised his hand, and when the pastor called for his answer he said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
Sadly, this verse describes a lot of families today. A marriage begins to have problems when the husband and wife buy into the old adage that says, “Marriage is like a three-ring circus: engagement ring, wedding ring, and suffering.” This unhappy description does not have to be true of any marriage. Every household can be a place where happiness lives – if those who live there do things God’s way.
Ephesians 5 lists five principles for marriage which, if applied, not only will strengthen any marriage, but also can help it flourish:
Principle one: turn on the light (verse 13). If we need to find something on the floor in a dark room, we turn on the light. The light helps us to easily find it. It was there the entire time, but we couldn’t see it. Psalm 119:05 says, “Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path.” When you bring your marriage into the light of Scripture, you see how important it is to conform to what God says. Guidance is given. Strength is provided to face the difficult problems that inevitably must be faced in any marriage.
Principle two: wake up (verse 14). This verse reminds us that we cannot sleepwalk through life or through marriage. It opens our eyes to the fact that the culture in which we live is not a friend of marriage and the family. In fact, it seeks to redefine those terms. Satan will do everything he can to destroy your family.
Principle three: walk circumspectly (verse 15). The word “circumspectly” refers to that which is accurate and exact. It is the idea of examining or investigating something with great care. Walking circumspectly in marriage doesn’t happen as the result of mere chance or luck. It is the result of hard work, commitment, and attention to detail. The end result is worth the effort expended.
Principle four: use time wisely (verse 16). One of the easiest things to do is to waste time, to not use it wisely and profitably. The wise use of time requires prioritizing. Time lost can never be regained.
Principle five: Be filled with the Spirit (verse 18). Anyone who looks at these five principles will see that they require conscious effort. But they also make it very clear we cannot be what God wants us to be without the help of His Spirit. To be filled with the Spirit is to have the mind of Christ. It carries the idea of wind filling a sail. Rowing the boat in marriage is work. It is easier when it is aided by God’s Spirit.
In the Yosemite National Park there is a giant redwood tree approximately 40 feet in diameter that has a sign at its base which reads: “The Faithful Couple.” It looks like a single tree, not two. Fifteen hundred years ago, two trees sprouted as seedlings on the forest floor about 15 feet apart. For several hundred years the two trees grew larger and larger until their trunks touched and began fusing together into a single tree. Through the centuries these two trees have become one tree until today they are known as “the Faithful Couple.”
What a perfect symbol of a godly marriage that knows the oneness of Christ! As two people sink their roots deep into mutually following Christ, studying His Word, responding to the leading of the Holy Spirit, and bearing faithful witness through their family to others, they grow together to become one – a faithful couple.
Is this a picture of your marriage? If not, it can be. The ball is in your court.
The Paper Pulpit 
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