Picture Perfectනියැදිය

Dimension 3) Three Things To Know About A Healthy Marriage

1) It Starts In Your Heart

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5:27-28 ESV)

While it can feel awkward to talk about, God places a high value on purity. In the original language, “adultery” literally means to engage sexually with someone who is not your spouse. Jesus takes the definition a step further and indicates that even thinking lustfully about someone you’re not married to is sin. Why is this so important? This type of intimacy is specifically reserved for marriage, a beautiful reflection of Jesus’ (the groom) love for His church (the bride). When it becomes perverted or twisted, it cheapens our view of this incredible gift and limits our ability to fully walk in the purpose God has for us.

2) It Requires Real Sacrifice

“If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.” (Matthew 5:29-30 ESV)

In marriage, pure connection should be pursued, no matter the cost. Even if you’re not married, it’s essential to remove anything from your life that hinders your obedience to God. Whether it’s an unhealthy friendship or an addiction to technology, if it causes you to sin, you must cut it off. Removing sin from your life not only prepares you for a healthy marriage in the future, but it also enables you to walk in the fullness of the purpose God has for you today.

3) It’s Worth Fighting For

“It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.” (Matthew 5:31-32 ESV)

Jesus teaches that marriage is meant to be a permanent covenant between a man and a woman. Rather than looking for justifiable reasons to divorce, we’re called to pursue healing and restoration when brokenness occurs. While God never asks us to remain in situations of ongoing abuse, He does call us to seek restoration with the person we’ve made a lifelong commitment to whenever possible. If you or your parents have experienced divorce, know that God's grace is sufficient, and He has a unique way of taking broken situations and using them to accomplish His greater purposes.

Big Idea: A healthy marriage begins in the heart, requires intentional sacrifice and is worth fighting for. When we align our view of marriage with God’s design, we experience deeper intimacy and freedom.

Let’s Think About This:

Question 1) Why do you think Jesus says that what’s in your heart matters just as much as your actions? How can you protect your heart in a world that often doesn’t take purity seriously?

Question 2) What are some things (like apps, shows, music or friend groups) that might be pulling you away from following Jesus with your whole heart? What would it look like to let those things go?

Question 3) Even though you might not be thinking about marriage yet, how can you start building healthy habits and a godly mindset now that will help you in the future?