An 11-3-2013 blog entry by Seth Adam Smith appeared in The Huffington Post recently. It’s been shared far and wide since then. It’s words ring true to what I’ve been saying for years, based on God’s Word. The title of the post is “Marriage Isn’t for You.” At first, a reader might think the post is going to promote just living together or having endless extra-marital affairs. REFRESHINGLY, to the contrary, Mr. Smith shares some wonderful advice he received from his father as he was anxious about the prospect of getting married. His wise father said, “I’m going to make this really simple: marriage isn’t for you. You don’t marry to make yourself happy, you marry to make someone else happy.” That’s what God teaches as He directs us to sacrificial and unconditional love.
Mr. Smith, now speaking from the experience of one and a half years of joyful marriage, continues in his post by saying, “My father’s advice was both shocking and revelatory. It went against the grain of today’s ‘Walmart philosophy’, which is if it doesn’t make you happy, you can take it back and get a new one. No, a true marriage (and true love) is never about you. It’s about the person you love–their wants, their needs, their hopes, and their dreams. Selfishness demands, ‘What’s in it for me?’ while Love asks, ‘What can I give?'”
How refreshing to hear some words that support the Truth of God … and from The Huffington Post no less. There’s still hope for marriage. I thank and applaud Mr. Smith and say with him, “ABSOLUTELY! Marriage isn’t for you.” But, when two people enter into marriage with this attitude, also drawing on the forgiveness and strength of Jesus Christ, the joyous result is a lifelong marriage filled with contentment, peace, comfort and joy that far exceed the fleeting happiness of this world.
Seth Adam Smith and wife, Kim