Purpose of Marriage 3

“But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own

husband.  The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband”

(1 Corinthians 7:2-3).

The third purpose of marriage is to avoid sexual immorality.  In 1 Corinthians 7:2-3, it states, "“But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.  The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband."  The issue of sexual immorality is often associated with physical union before or outside of marriage, but it can also be seen as a matter of the heart and thoughts prior to physical connection.  This is because immorality that arises in the heart and thoughts precedes physical union.

In our current society, like Sodom and Gomorrah, people seek sexual pleasure outside the beautiful marital relationship that God has created, pursuing their own desires.  Christian young people preparing for marriage must safeguard their purity for the spouse that God has prepared for them.  Married Christian couples should responsibly fulfill each other's needs and obligations.  They should become individuals who understand and meet each other's sexual satisfaction needs.  Husbands should strive to understand their wives and make efforts to satisfy their needs, while wives should acknowledge their husbands' sexual needs and strive to satisfy them.  This is what Paul is referring to as mutual obligations in 1 Corinthians 7:3.__