Every year more and more people get engaged, court each other and finally walk the isle. Young adults are under tremendous pressure from the parents, the church, the society, the culture and themselves not only to marry but to marry the “right person”. Ironically every year the number of divorce in our society increase almost at the rate of increase in marriages. Although the percentage of divorce stands at about 49%, the actual number of unsuccessful marriages is much higher than that percentile.
The government has recognized and responded to divorce crisis by giving incentives for people to get married and stay married. The church also has responded to the divorce bug by establishing marriage ministries, house/group support meeting, seminars and conferences. Some churches even instituted mandatory counseling regimen to prepare the young couple for life of marriage. But the divorce decease continues to ravage both rookies and veterans of marriage covenant.
The truth is that Marriage is not for everyone. The scripture made it clear that marriage is only for those who can accept the rules of marriage. Perhaps the most difficult of the rules to accept is that you are ‘stuck’ with your spouse for life. In Mathew 19:10-11(MSG), the disciples of Jesus Christ came to grip with the harshness of this rule and objected, “If those are the terms of marriage, we’re stuck. Why get married?” To this pertinent question Jesus replied, “Not everyone is mature enough to live a married life. It requires a certain aptitude and grace. Marriage isn’t for everyone.”
Today, many married couples are feeling stuck and wishing that they had the benefit of the rules before enlisting in the game. The Church must go back to the basics of defining the rules, identifying those ready to accept the responsibilities and disqualify those who are not ready for marriage. Until then, many will find themselves “stuck” and ultimately avail themselves of the secular solution that divorce court offers them.
