Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Christmas vs Marriage

Perhaps “versus” is the wrong term to use here, because Christmas and Marriage are not usually thought of in relationship with Christmas. Contrasting the two, certainly we don’t compare marriage to Christmas, but what is Christmas? Isn’t it the celebration of Christ’s incarnation? The God of Heaven taking on human form, walking the earth and dying as a sacrifice for the sins of mankind? Christ came to earth to give His life for us. Christmas is about giving – Christ demonstrated love by giving His life. We also are to give, not just presents on Christmas day, but we are to emulate Christ and give of our selves throughout the year – throughout life.
The next question; what is marriage? The joining of a man and woman in the most intimate relationship possible on earth; it is a giving of oneself to another person completely. Ephesians 5 tells husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her. Wives are to win their husbands without a word – giving of themselves to their husbands. 1 Corinthians 7 also speaks of husbands and wives giving of themselves to each other – not withholding physically. So marriage is similar to Christmas in that it is to be about giving. Kenn Kington says it well; “Success in life is not in what we get, it is in what we give. Things we obtain, power we possess, fame we achieve will never fill that lasting need we can only find in giving.” To succeed in life and in marriage, we must be givers.

Give of yourself, not only at Christmas, but throughout the year. Be known as a giver; one who gives of himself to others – especially to your spouse, but also to all those you come in contact with. Be a light in this dark, hateful world; love God and love others – give.