Feb 9 - Genesis 2:24a

Therefore a man leaves

his father and his mother

and clings to his wife …

Genesis 2;24a

^NRSV

 

Did you ever watch the television comedy “Everybody Loves Raymond”?

 

The premise was simple: What if a husband and wife live across the street from his parents?

 

Ray’s father was crass. His mother was meddling. And on television, comedy comes from conflict.

 

In real life, grief, pain, and frustration are what come from conflict.

   

On television, it’s funny to have a meddling and manipulative mother-in-law. In real life, nothing is supposed to come between a husband and a wife ... including good old mom.

   

On television, Ray is afraid of his mother. Therefore, he often takes his mother’s side over the needs of his wife. In real life, that’s a recipe for disaster.

   

In real life, nothing, indeed, is supposed to come between a husband and a wife. Not our mom. Not our kids. Not our career. Not our individual wants or desires. Not some personal quest for personal happiness. No, nothing is ever supposed to come between a husband and a wife.

   

Therefore, when Jesus quoted these words from Genesis, he added emphatically, “What God has joined together, let no one put asunder” (Mark 10:9)

 

On other days, we’ll talk about how to make our extended families an extension of our joy in life and marriage. But today we’ll stick with one simple piece of Scriptural wisdom: “Cling to” your spouse above all else.

 

Question of the Day: see below

 

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who surely hasn’t

said this enough today:

Nothing is supposed to come

between a husband and a wife

 

Question of the Day

·         Getting Married and Newlyweds: Besides God, who should be the glue that sticks husbands and wives together, are you clinging to your fiancé or spouse above all else? What (including your family) is keeping you from this priority?

·         Married: Besides God, who should be the glue that sticks husbands and wives together, are you clinging to your spouse above all else? What is keeping you from this priority? And … if your kids are grown and married, are you helping or harming their togetherness?

·         Not Married: How are you helping friendships and marriages stay together?