Love for a Lifetime
Scripture Reading — Matthew 19:1-12
“What God has joined together, let man not separate.”
Matthew 19:6
“For better or for worse, till death do us part.” These words are still heard at many wedding ceremonies today. It’s what God had in mind when he instituted marriage. Marriage is meant to be a covenant for life. As James Dobson has put it, marriage is to be “love for a lifetime.”
According to Jesus in Matthew 19, divorce is present in our world because of our brokenness. It was because of sin that God provided the possibility for divorce, because of the hardness of our hearts. Even though a divorce is sometimes inevitable, God still says, “Has not the LORD made them one? In flesh and spirit they are his… I hate divorce” (Malachi 2:15-16).
Couples in a troubled marriage should head for help instead of heading for the exit door. Statistics show that 90 percent of couples who are both willing to see a counselor can save their marriage. Statistics also show that 90 percent of those who are in their second marriage are no happier after ten years of marriage than they were in their first marriage.
If your marriage is in trouble, please seek help. Find a Christian counselor or therapist who might help you save your relationship. And if you have experienced the pain of divorce, know that the Lord is forgiving, and discover his grace in the midst of brokenness and hurt.
Lord, we pray for those who have experienced the pain of a divorce. Be with those who are looking for help, and make the church a place for new beginnings. Amen.
About the author — Arthur J. Schoonveld
Rev. Art Schoonveld is a retired minister in the Christian Reformed Church. Before retiring in 2001, he served churches in California, Illinois, and Michigan. Since his retirement he has worked part-time for the denomination and has served as an interim pastor. Art and his wife, Anita, have four children and nine grandchildren.
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