The Vow - Partnership
Mike Popenhagen
Genesis 2:24-25
24 This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.
Marriage is designed by God to be one.
Ecclesiastes 4:12
12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Marriage partnership works through mutual submission.
Ephesians 5:21-25
21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her
33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
Partnership is established in marriage by getting on the "same page" in all areas.
1 Corinthians 7:3-5
3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.4 The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife.5 Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
How to Build Unity in Your Marriage:
- Make time and allow your spouse to give input concerning the issues in your life and marriage.
- Never make important decisions without the input and agreement of your spouse.
- Start praying together and pray often.
- Plan a 2-3 day retreat each year to recalibrate, revisit goals and plan for the future.
- Ask your spouse: What do you need from me?