THREE CORDS

Recently I attended the wedding of a friend's son where a visual was done I had by never before witnessed at a wedding. Three cords were weaved together. The three cords were symbolic of the husband, the wife and Christ. Christ is supposed to be the center of a marriage and the 'glue' of sorts in what holds things together. A Christian husband is to be the spiritual leader of the home but God is first place. A couple should pray together and have devotions together to have them become closer to God. In the illustration the groom held one end of the three cords while the bride braided them into a rope. A great 'word picture' and something that made a great impression on me.

This illustration of the three cords was taken from Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 and it says "Two are better than one,because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." Think about a rope and how thick it is and almost impossible to cut or tear. It is usually made from 3 cords. 1 cord would break and two would not be very strong. But adding the third one gives much strength and durability. My younger son and his fiancee are both rock climbers and the ropes they use have to be braided good or disaster would result. You have to trust that strong sturdy rope with your life.

In a Christian marriage God gives that  kind of durability. If a couple is reading God's word and follows it, their life as husband and wife will go much smoother. If they pray together, attend church together, perhaps go to  a small group Bible study and have time at home in the word together they will be drawn closer together in the long run. For a marriage to work two should become one, with Christ as the head. If one person in a marriage selfishly tries to get their own way this will cause much anguish in the marriage. Both the man and the woman need to put God first then their spouse for true harmony to exist.

Genesis 2:18-24 in speaking of marriage says "The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals   and all the birds in the sky.   He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called   each living creature,   that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals.But for Adam no suitable helper   was found. So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep;   and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib  he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said,“This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh;  he shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.  That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united   to his wife, and they become one flesh."

Marriage between a man and a woman is a very good thing but even more so when God is kept that third strand in the cord and gives 'strength and stability' to the marriage union.

PRAYER: Lord I thank you for the gift of marriage and I thank you for being there with us as we walk through good times and  bad. Help me to always remember to put you first Lord. Forgive me when I do not. In Jesus Name. Amen.