Chapter 20—Marriage
God made from the man a woman, to be a companion and help-
meet for him, to be one with him, to cheer, encourage, and bless him,
he in his turn to be her strong helper. All who enter into matrimonial
relations with a holy purpose—the husband to obtain the pure affec-
tions of a woman’s heart, the wife to soften and improve her husband’s
character and give it completeness—fulfill God’s purpose for them.
Christ came not to destroy this institution, but to restore it to its
original sanctity and elevation. He came to restore the moral image
of God in man, and He began His work by sanctioning the marriage
relation.
He who gave Eve to Adam as a helpmeet performed His first
miracle at a marriage festival. In the festal hall where friends and
kindred rejoiced together, Christ began His public ministry. Thus He
sanctioned marriage, recognizing it as an institution that He Himself
had established. He ordained that men and women should be united in
holy wedlock, to rear families whose members, crowned with honor,
should be recognized as members of the family above.
The Wedding Should Be a Simple, Happy Occasion
The divine love emanating from Christ never destroys human love,
but includes it. By it human love is refined and purified, elevated and
ennobled. Human love can never bear its precious fruit until it is united
with the divine nature and trained to grow heavenward. Jesus wants to
see happy marriages, happy firesides.
The Scriptures state that both Jesus and His disciples were called to
this marriage feast [at Cana]. Christ has given Christians no sanction
to say when invited to a marriage, We ought not to be present on so
joyous an occasion. By attending this feast Christ taught that He would
have us rejoice with those who do rejoice in the observance of His
statutes. He never discouraged the innocent festivities of mankind
when carried on in accordance with the laws of Heaven. A gathering
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