Who's Building Your House?

Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. Psalm 127:1

By the time I was married I was fully aware of what the bible says about love and marriage. I knew that marriage was created by God in my mind but knew nothing about letting him direct it in my life. You see for many years I had been telling myself I'll never get divorced. That might sound good to you but for me that became the standard for marriage. While God created marriage and will never tear down a house he is building, there is much more to it.

Truthfully, I had created my own standard for a good marriage. I had lowered the bar dramatically and the consequences could have been drastic. But God was very gracious and patient. God's desire is for me to love my spouse as my own body. I should nourish and cherish her as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.

Imagine if your wife asked you what kind of marriage you want to have. How would you answer? Do you think she'd be satisfied with the fact that you'd never leave her? Or would she want something far richer, deeper, and meaningful. She'd want to be pursued, truly loved, accepted. She would want your heart fully. She would want to know that she is captivating and the only one. She would want you to trust her with deep things you thought you'd never tell anyone.

God's standard for marriage is more lofty than mine but maybe I'm coming around. How about you?