Text : Genesis 1 : 27

Introduction
What is marriage?
It is a union. Union in set theory means to bring together to form an entity. No wonder, the scripture says that both will come together to become one.
What makes up this union called marriage? In other words, what are the elements that make up this entity? This will lead us to the definition of marriage we are using tonight for this study. Marriage can be described as the state of being lawfully united to a person of the opposite sex as husband or wife.
Let's examine the keywords in this definition.
1. Lawfully united.
To be lawfully united may differ from one area to the other depending on the culture and traditions of each location. In some cultures, before a man can be lawfully joined to his intending wife, he has to be flogged with some strokes of cane, while in another setting, it's just a meeting up of the parties involved to agree on terms and conditions. In all these cultural or traditional practices, the botton line is that as sons and daughters of God, things must be done in the confines of God's will. Lawfully united gives no room for cohabitation especially among youth, especially those in higher institutions. Anyone engaging in cohabitation should know that he/she is unlawfully united, and such should be ready to face the consequences. I once lived in a building in which two opposite sex were cohabiting. It was drama all through, apart from the time wasting in preparing meal for the guy, the guy did beat her severally. In fact my thought then was that after each beating,  the lady will use it as an escuse to escape, but no, she remained with him till they graduated. Funny enough, she couldn't report the guy to anybody or call for intervention. They both beared the consequences.
2. Opposite sex.
Obviously, this shows that the union should be between a male and a female, thus not providing any room for man to man or woman to woman.. Now it has become a norm in some climes for a man to take another man to the alter to become husband and wife, same for woma to woman, which make them to be lawfully united, fulfilling the 'lawfully united' part of the definition of marriage earlier stated. Though lawfully united, yet what they did cannot be termed marriage according to the definition above because the union is not between two opposite sex.

The Biblical facts about marriage.
1. Marriage is God's idea.
Gen 2 : 18 -24
The passage above explained to us how God initiated the first marriage.  It was in the course of performing his assigned duty that God thought it well to give Adam a wife, not just a wife, but an help meet that will complement the man. No wonder King Solomon through the Holy Spirit wrote in Proverbs 19 : 14 House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD.
The fact that the concept of marriage was initiated  by God makes it mandatory for intending couple to involve HIM at every stage of the relationship irrespective of the various ways by which different cultures or traditions lawfully unite intending couples.

2. Marriage is based on the principled practice of love, and not on feelings.
Ephesians 5 : 21 - 33
This passage is telling us about the kind of love in a Christian home and the love of Christ for the church.
Adam, in Genesis 2 that we read earlier, when he saw Eve, his heart melted and loved her unconditionally. Brethren, this fact about marriage must be taken seriously. When marriage is based on the principled practice of feelings, what happens when the things that brought about the feelings are no more? This is why many homes today are experiencing turbulent situations even at the early stage of the marriage. Feelings deal with the shadow, while love deals with the substance.
The shadow will fade away, but the substance remains. Feelings overlook compatibility  (help meet), while love emphasizes on compliment. What brings about feelings? Mundane things such as sonorous voice, beauty, six packs, beards, cars, work position, figure 8, just to mention but a few. If anyone should go into any marriage based on all these mundane things, the probability that union will last long is slim when the wind blows. Remember that wind will surely blow.

A story was once shared about a newly wedded couple that broke up on the night of their wedding after the wife had used the bathroom, thus washing off the makeup. As seen in woman so also in man. We have heard of a man who cannot perfom as a man at all when it comes to the match between husband and wife. Maybe the woman and man above based thier marriage on facial look and six packs respectively. God will help us.
The two scenarios above couldn’t have ended in the dissolution of a union if the marriages are based on love, because love conquereth all things.
Yes, it is good to have a partner that one can be proud of or show of in the public, let's not allow feelings take the place of love in choosing our life partner., because when the chips are down, bucket won't be able to hold water if marriage based on feelings, while even a basket will retain water in a marriage based on love when the chips are down. May God help us to choose rightly base on love and not on feelings, amen.
Thanks for your time. God bless.

To be continued

Proverb 18:22.Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.

I THINK AM READY FOR MARRIAGE. SO PLEASE IF YOU ARE INTERESTED COME AND PICK YOUR APPLICATION FORM.

...to be continued. Marriage matter no dey finish but remember to add -Jesus teaches that everybody is not meant for marriage- Matthew 19:10-12.