What does the Bible say?
QUESTION:
I have always heard that there is a woman for every man. Is this true? as I have not found a wife.
ANSWER:
I do not find any where in the Word of God where God has promised every man a wife. It is true that God instituted marriage when He joined Adam and Eve – Gen. 2:21-24. The Bible begins with that marriage and the Bible ends with the marriage of the Lamb (Christ and His bride). A marriage for His Son is the ultimate purpose of God.
Ephesians 5 says, Christ so “loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” -Vs. 25-27. He purchased a wife when He redeemed humanity.
We read in Mt. 19:3-9 when the Pharisees came to Jesus to tempt Him with a question about the law of divorce. They did not like His answer. They concluded that it was not good for man to marry. Jesus said, “All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given. For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb” (any man lacking normal function of the testes); “and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men (such as Daniel – Dan. 1:3-4); and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake (as did the Apostle Paul). He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.”
The Apostle Paul wrote concerning marriage in I Corinthians chapter Seven. Verse 2, “Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.” He says in Verses 6-9, “But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment. For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that. I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.”
He adds in V. 17, “But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk…”. Vs. 20, “Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.” V. 24, “Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.” Vs. 32-33, “But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.”
We all have to get the mind of the Lord (His will) in this matter. Marriage is sacred, yet not for everyone.
E. J. D.
