Dear friends, welcome back to Marriage and the Gospel course, ‘how the cross unites you as one’. We are really excited to share today’s lesson with you. In our last lesson we saw how we died and were released from the law and bound to one another in Christ. Today we are going to see the power of this threefold cord (Jesus, husband and wife) which binds, protects, seals and envelopes our marriage. Whether we are dangling alone, hanging on by one strand, faced with hopelessness, at a dead end or seeing no light at the end of the tunnel.
Come with us as we read about what Solomon writes in all his wisdom, as he talks about our lives being but a ‘vapor’ or ‘breath.’ Let us not take for granted our lives together with our spouses but embrace the threefold cord through the cross as our stronghold.
"There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. “For whom am I toiling,” he asked, “and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?” This too is meaningless—a miserable business! 9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: 10 If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. 11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." Ecclesiastes 4:8-12
Friend, even though God was never truly alone, Jesus is 'the man' who was wealthy but had no son or brother in which to pass on His inheritance. The man standing next to God who would come to earth and in His flesh be The Shepherd who was struck (Zechariah 13:7). The rich and the wealthy One in whom all the wisdom and treasure of knowledge are found (Colossians 2:3), who found no pleasure in keeping His treasure to Himself, nor were His eyes content with His wealth as He wanted to share it with others. So Jesus left His perfect place and paradise in heaven to pursue a relationship with His ugly, unwanted unholy bride, to make her beautiful and without blemish. You are the one Jesus came to share all His wealth with. He was toiling for you. He deprived Himself of enjoyment so that you could be heirs to His inheritance and “partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel." Ephesians 3:6
This is why two are better than one. You and Jesus are better together as you have a greater return for your labor than when you were alone, and this is why your marriage will have a greater return of its labor as well. Jesus and you, and Jesus and your spouse equals a powerful union that is not quickly broken.
Question 1. Can you see how your individual and personal relationship with Jesus and your spouses individual and personal relationship makes for a more powerful marriage? Please share.
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We recently told a friend as we were counseling him, that with Jesus you and your spouse are ‘better together.' Now go home and tell her that you are better because of Jesus in you and how He completes your union. You are both united together by Jesus who came to provide for your every need in marriage and are far better than being alone.
Question 2. Please share in what ways you and your spouse are ‘better together’ in Christ.
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Illustration: Peter and Jesus together:
But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” Matthew 14:30-31
"If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up." Ecclesiastes 4:10