Plus Eight

I know it’s hard to believe, but just this last week I discovered Jon and Kate. We watch little current TV, and never watch ‘reality’ shows. Basically, because they aren’t.

I did read this MSNBC article about their pending divorce and was struck by one line:

“When the fifth season of the Gosselins' show premiered May 25, the couple admitted to having problems and not knowing where their relationship was headed.”

One of the biggest problems is that what they had was looked upon as a ‘relationship’, not a marriage.

And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. (Genesis 2:23-24 KJV)

Marriage combines two people into one. It is not a friendship, nor any other relationship. It is designed to be a oneness, where what is best for one is best for both.

Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. (1 Corinthians 7:3-4 KJV)

Marriage requires both to submit. A beautiful portrait of marriage starts with:

Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. (Ephesians 5:21 KJV)

Many women balk at the following:

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. (Ephesians 5:22-24 KJV)

But, they shouldn’t. They are losing nothing by submitting to a husband who loves them as much as Christ does His church. Especially when that responsibility is defined:

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (Ephesians 5:25 KJV)

Paul repeats the Genesis example, then adds the fact that marriage is a great mystery:

For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband. (Ephesians 5:31-33 KJV)

Do I argue with him? Do I disagree with him? Do I wish – and work – for him to be different? Absolutely!!! Yet, I reverence my Beloved Husband, and know that the same exists for him. Our prayer should be that these parents of eight precious miracles would do the same. May God be with this fractured family.