Although many people claim to know the answer to this simple question, have you ever really thought about the answer. People often break it down to a simple legal agreement, a religious ceremony, a declaration of love, an economical arrangement, even a requirement for building a family.
The truth is, it is all of these things. Marriage cannot be interpreted in one simple definition. Though many studying marriage have tried, it cannot be measured by any metric. The depth by which it affects us is purely individual.
We tend to not think about its profound psychological effects. Not only does a marriage make a public announcement of your dedication to your partner, it also means that deep inside your mind, you are connecting yourself to another person, making yourself totally vulnerable to them and removing any barrier between you both. You are intimately available to one another, more than any other. You are sharing your life with another person, life being our most prized asset.
When your life becomes difficult, having that other person to help you through it is an immeasurable relief. They can be your rock during times of hardship, they can be your co-pilot through a storm cloud.
We Can Make It Through The Tough Times Together
We all have our strengths and weaknesses but together, we are stronger.
For more on Ontological equality between men and women in the eyes of the church, read ‘Defining Marriage’ in my book and learn more about what marriage means. It is only when we understand what it is, that we can make a maximum effort to make it the best it can be.