Marriage Is Good Medicine
This past week the Wall Street Journal published an article titled “For Long-Term Health and Happiness, Marriage Still Matters” by Brendan Case and Ying Chen. The article captures a most recent study regarding married women. The new study shows that for women, getting married is linked to significantly better physical and mental health. The study revealed that “married women had lower risk of cardiovascular disease and were happier and more optimistic.”
This article caught many by surprise due to rising divorce rates, endless marriage counseling, and the media portrayal of marriage since all scream the exact opposite of this study’s findings. When I read it, I was not surprised. God’s design was and always will be best for human flourishing. Marriage was established early in the creation story as marriage would become the bedrock of society.
God officiated the very first wedding for His designed institution. In Genesis 2:18–25 we read, [18] Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” [19] Now out of the ground the LORD God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. [20] The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. [21] So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. [22] And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. [23] Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” [24] Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. [25] And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.
Here Scripture speaks to marriage as being a sacred union - a covenant between a man, a women, and God. This union not only brings them closer together in companionship but also creates an environment where children can be born and raised. Marriage is the context for the family unit.
The New Testament offers further clarity on the holy bond between husband and wife, as Christ himself teaches in Mark 10:6-9 and states that divorce should only occur under extreme circumstances otherwise couples should commit themselves fully with no room for separation apart from death.
Over and over again, Scripture demonstrates how precise God's design really is when established within a secure environment according to His laws and ways; without these limits relationships between humans would lose all meaning and purpose very quickly in this world due to its brokenness caused by sin.
Since we have been created in His image, marriage as designed by God reflects some of His greatest qualities like unconditional love, faithfulness and unity among mankind. Marriage is God’s common grace to humanity. Marriage is the bond of society and foundation for human flourishing.
Bottom line, man’s studies continue to prove out God’s perfect design for His creation.
