Preparing for Marriage BiblicallySample

THE LAW OF PRECEDENCE IN MARRIAGE

The third law of marriage is the Law of Precedence. Marriage precedes the family and not the other way around. It is the marriage that gives birth to the family. The marriage covenant is the foundation upon which the family covenant is built. What protects your children and future in a marriage is not the house you have built. What protects the seed that you are raising is not the security guard that you have at your gate. It is the vow that you made to your spouse that will stick by you; that is the guarantee. When that vow is broken, only God knows the extent of the damage that happens.

In our ministry, one of the things that God has helped us to do is to help young people overcome some damages that happen when a partner breaks the marriage vow. It does something very unexplainable. Only God knows how many people are walking the streets of the world today who have become criminals because of the violation of marriage vows. The marriage vows are very serious. One of the vows says, “You will not find yourself naked in the presence of another person except that woman (your wife) or that man (your husband).

Some people violate the Law of Precedence in marriage as children are added to the family. For instance, a spouse begins to promote the children above the other spouse. The wife can spend more time with the children by talking with them more than her husband. The husband can care for the children more than his wife. Remember that the children will leave the nest when they reach a certain age and it will be the two of you that will continue.

Never, at any point in your journey, should either spouse promote the family above the marriage. The strength that is in a family comes from the strength in the union between the husband and wife. The Bible says, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife… (Gen. 2:24)” You are not married until you have “left." Leaving and cleaving is the exact definition of the Law of Precedence.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, help me to properly prioritise my marriage over family. Give me the strength to uphold my marital vows in Jesus’ name. Amen!