I enjoy reading the “Meyer Minute,” a blog by Rev. Dale Meyer, President of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO. His blog for Feb. 11, 2015 is a great follow-up to my last blog entry. I’m including it below for your benefit. Let’s hear it for godly desire in marriage … as opposed to the shallow desires of the flesh that bring so much pain to so many. Happy Valentine’s Day!
The Meyer Minute – February 11, 2015
Desire in marriage… It’s more important than we might realize. Of course, in the run up to Valentine’s Day, desire – amorous desire – plays a key role in commercials, but that’s not what I have in mind.
“Marriage is about as good a predictor of economic success as are education, race and ethnicity, according to a 2014 study by Robert Lerman…at the University of Virginia.” And in our national concern about income inequality, “they concluded that if married households today equaled the numbers seen in 1980, ‘the growth in median income of families with children would be 44 percent higher.’ The study also found a link between the decline in the number of Americans ‘who form and maintain stable, married families’ and the growth in income inequality.’”
One reason why married couples (not living together but married) tend to do well over the long haul is desire. Louis Ulmer, 34-years-old of Anchorage, Alaska says, “Being married gives us the desire to have greater financial security and less debt. My wife and I enjoy every minute of those moments together, which in turn leads us to plan more effectively for retirement so we can continue to afford the lifestyle we want.” (New York Times, February 8; 15)
Proof that the Creator did well in designing marriage! Desire was corrupted by sin (see Genesis 3:16) but the God who selflessly loves us sanctifies the desires of husbands and wives for each other. “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25). Husbands and wives desiring each other…Christian marriage is “rich” in blessings!