May was the month of two weddings, according to my family.

For the Royal Wedding, my wife sat glued to the television much of the day, but the second wedding - that of my third daughter Sophie (we have five daughters) - was by far the more important for us. Almost a year was taken up with its preparation (far too much according to my reckoning!) and God heard our prayers, blessing the celebration with shalom and fine weather.

Such little rays of happiness continue within a world that steps farther away from God and towards prophesied disaster.

I remember a conversation with my daughters some years back where they expressed their desire for time and opportunity to experience marriage and families before Jesus returns. Perhaps with the experience of life, us older ones might discourage that sentiment as foolish and illogical, though I remember when it was also my own dream. So, what does the Bible tell us of such matters?

God’s Heart for Family

God’s heart is totally family-orientated. Take for instance:

Children too are a gift from Adonai: the fruit of the womb is a reward. The children born when one is young are like arrows in the hand of a warrior. How blessed is the man who has filled his quiver with them… (Psalm 127:3-5)

To experience the blessings of a God-centred family is to come close to our Heavenly Father’s heart. And it is best to start with a God-centred marriage.

Each time we celebrate a marriage it acts out (for those who have eyes to see) the wedding feast we believers are corporately looking forward to as Jesus’ Bride when he returns as King and Bridegroom. The Apostle John says:

Let us rejoice and be glad! Let us give him the glory! For the time has come for the wedding of the Lamb, and his Bride has prepared herself… (Rev 19:7)

Jesus took time to participate in marriage celebrations as we know from John 2:1-11 where he ensured the success of a wedding by turning water into wine. He also used the wedding picture in several of his teachings:

• Jesus described the kingdom of Heaven as like a king who prepared a wedding feast for his son. (Matt 22:1-14)
• Jesus likened the kingdom of Heaven to the preparation of wise and foolish virgins for a wedding with the consequences of being prepared or not. (Matt 25:1-13)

Furthermore, marriage will be part of God’s creation right up until the time Jesus returns. In Matthew 24:38-41 Jesus told his listeners that “before the Flood, people went on…taking wives and becoming wives…and they didn’t know what was happening until the Flood came and swept them away. It will be just like that when the Son of Man comes”; we will be continuing such everyday activities as farming, milling, having our meals, celebrating marriages, etc.

“So…” (Jesus had already in v32 prophesied signs in order that we might be aware when his return is close), “So…” do all these things but “stay alert, like a house owner who knows a thief is coming but not exactly when” (v42-44).

A Word of Caution

It is important to balance the priority of our marriages on earth with the expectation of the Lord’s return for His Bride. Paul’s advice in 1 Corinthians 7 (vv25-30), stressing the priority of preparing for the latter, recommends that “In a time of stress…because the present scheme of things in this world won’t last much longer”, it can be good (though not essential) for a person to stay as he is: singles to remain single and marrieds to remain married.

I think Paul’s concern was that these everyday affairs can distract from what is more important - namely holding to and sharing the good news of salvation. As was the case in Paul’s days, so will be the case again in the days to come.

To Marry or Not to Marry?

I believe that we are still living in a time when it is good to encourage our children to experience marriage and have families, if that is their desire, making their marriage promises to each other in the sight of God, with family and friends to witness.

Who knows - it is possible that in the times ahead, these very families will become the hub of many little house congregations. So, go find good God-fearing husbands, daughters of mine!

Author: John Quinlan

Bible quotes from the Complete Jewish Translation.