My dear readers,

(Excerpts from Building Firm Foundations, Dr SH Tow)

1. The world’s first institution
The marriage partnership is the oldest institution in the world, instituted of God. Together with it He also laid down instructions for its proper usage. However, men in rebellion have ignored His instructions and by their own devices have made marriage the most abused institution in the world.

"For maximum safety and satisfaction, follow manufacturer’s directions." What applies to products and appliances applies equally to marriage. Our Divine maker intends for all users to know the rules governing marriage.

1. Marriage is a divine institution. Men did not invent it. God did. Therefore marriage is a sacred institution not to be entered into "unadvisedly, lightly or wantonly, but reverently, discreetly, soberly, and in the fear of God."
2. In marriage, man is the head, because man was made first and woman was made from man. Nevertheless, the two are complementary to each other.
3. Marriage is a one-to-one partnership i.e. monogamy. Polygamy is a violation of the institution.
4. Marriage is a union between a man and a woman. Any other partnership is abnormal.
5. Marriage is for life. Two individuals in marriage become "one flesh," a basic unit of society. "What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder" (Matt 19:6).
6. Marriage alone allows the legitimate expression of sexuality. Outside of marriage all sex activity is contrary to God’s law. 

Modern man has distorted the whole concept of sex as something purely physical (e.g. hunger and thirst) to be satisfied as and when he chooses without regard to God’s law. Thus he sees himself no different from an animal as far as the sex drive is concerned. Believing this to be true, he sees nothing wrong in any form of sexual activity. Out of this philosophy has arisen all sorts of abnormal practices and movements (which are basically violations of the marriage institution and anti­God).

Born again believers who acknowledge the Creator God and submit to His righteous law clearly recognise the foul and abominable nature of premarital and extramarital sex, homosexuality, bestiality (sex with animals), polygamy (having more than one wife, promiscuity (loose and multiple sex partners), pornography (visual sex, commercialised).
"Thou shalt not commit adultery" (Ex 20:14).

2. No magic in marriage
In that most intimate, loving and lasting bond, marriage, is embodied a profound spiritual truth. Two persons have become one flesh.
This bond may be severed by only two things: death and sin. In either case there is deep and agonising pain. For the believing couple, it is their fulfilment and greatest joy to "live together according to God’s holy ordinance, till death us do part." But beyond death is the glorious hope of the resurrection.

Sin in its varied forms may threaten to disrupt the marriage bond. When believing couples, because of sin, neglect their "love-submission" relationship the bond will be strained. Our Lord puts His finger on the pulse and gives us the diagnosis: men divorce their wives because of the "hardness of their hearts." Their evil eye has strayed and their heart is sold to another. Conveniently they forget their former ardour and solemn vows. Excuses and pretexts confuse the issue. They blame it on Siamese black magic, Malay bomoh’s charms, and occult forces.

But our Lord says: it is the hard stony unfeeling heart, now turned against their first love.
Why? They consider only their own lust and pleasure, without regard to their wives’ feelings. The result is a rising tide of divorce threatening the marriage institution. Modern lifestyle with commercialisation of flesh and sex, hardens the heart, and fans the flames of adultery, burying every fourth marriage in America in the ash-heap of divorce.

A most alarming trend is the casualty rate among professing Christians and pastors. Truly the end time disease of Sodom and the days of Noah have returned. But the plague can be halted. Men and women must return to the Lord. Read 1 Peter 3 again. We need godly wives, adorned not like Hollywood stars but with a meek and quiet homely spirit of purity, subjecting themselves to their husbands. Not by dizzy merriment but by faithful devotion to the things of God can wives receive due honour.

Husbands, recall your first love and your marriage vows which you exchanged with the one who gave up her all to follow you. To her, render honour and grateful devotion as due to the weaker vessel (who depends so much on you). Above all else, think of this: Can I let my Lord down? He depends on me to uphold the honour of His name. I must!
Lord, give me a tender loving heart of flesh.

Yours faithfully in the Saviour’s Service,
Dr SH Tow, Sr Pastor