Wedding of Khumbulani & Nomusa
It is wonderful to enter marriage knowing that it did not come from yourself, but God brought it about. It will be a firm foundation to you in difficult times.
True Love Waits is a wonderful pledge millions of young people across the world has made to stay sexually pure before marriage. But that ‘True Love’ must also endure and grow in marriage.
The following illustration on marraige is the best known ever
Ephesians 5
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
It is the responsibility of the husband to treat his wife in such a way that she is sanctified, even as Christ loved the Church and gave His life for her to sanctify her. Marriage is a major, serious step. We know Nomusa as a Christian and we respect her for it, but now it’s your duty, Khumbulani, to see that her holiness and godliness increase from today. God makes you responsible for it. Christ loved the Church so much that He gave His life for her sanctification. Some men think marriage is just to satisfy them – the wife must cook, do his clothing and look after their children. No, you missed the point completely! You must love her as Christ loved the Church. Maybe your wife was a fine Christian and example before you married her, but today there is no life left in her. Why? Because of your selfish life, not caring for her sanctification. How do you sanctify her? By washing her with God’s Word. Make sure too that you are washed by the same Word.
God created marriage and it is a blessed relationship when founded in God. Since God created it, the best one to ask how to make marriage work is its Creator, God. Therefore let God’s Word teach you and your wife how to be a good husband and wife. We read in Ps 119:105 that God’s Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.
Difficult times arise in one’s life too. The hymnwriter of ‘What a friend we have in Jesus’ lost his wife to be on the eve of their wedding day.
Once when Rev Chauke was given 1min to preach, he said, ‘Once Jesus was in the boat with His disciples. A storm arose and Jesus calmed the storm and the boat was safe. Make sure that Jesus is in your boat when the storms of life arise’, and then he sat down. That is what you must be sure of – that Jesus is in your life every day and that you serve Him with your whole heart.
To summarise then,
- As husband it is your responsibility to sanctify your wife.
- Make sure that God’s Word is the light of your path.
- Ensure that Christ is in your boat at all times.