Psalm 34:8

Preparing for Marriage

Marriage is one of the greatest and most important events in our lives. Therefore, for young people preparing for marriage, it is naturally a matter of tremendous interest that cannot be compared with anything else. However, the reality we face is that, despite such great interest, proper preparation for marriage is often lacking. Too many people focus solely on non-essential aspects—such as the emotion of "love" and practical preparations like the wedding dowry—instead of laying a true foundation for marriage. But a marriage built on such a weak and non-essential foundation is bound to collapse easily when even the smallest storm of hardship comes.

The foundation of marriage is knowing that Jesus Christ is our Lord. This means believing and acknowledging that our marriage is under the rule of God the Father, and trusting that the Lord, who knows and loves us better than anyone, is giving us the very best. Upon that foundation, we are to practice the commandment of Jesus the Son—to love God and to love our neighbor. This commitment, as husband and wife, means loving God together and loving one another.

Based on this commitment, we are to continually experience the presence of the Holy Spirit throughout our married life. Only when we recognize that Christ is our Lord can our marriage be truly established on a solid rock.