To begin with, let’s speak about the purpose of marriage. I’d like to give you four reasons why God has given it to us.
1) “A Helpmate”
Turn first of all to Genesis chapter 2, and verse 18, “And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet [helpmate] for him.” And then in Malachi 2:1414Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the Lord hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. (Malachi 2:14) it says, “Yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.” This is one purpose of marriage, and that is, to provide intimate companionship.
A marriage that is of the Lord definitely will be a companionship. Adam was alone in the garden, and the Lord looked upon it and said, “It is not good that the man should be alone.” There is a loneliness that we experience being single that marriage meets. We know that Isaac, as an example, was “comforted” after his mother’s death by being married to Rebekah (Gen. 24:6767And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death. (Genesis 24:67)).
God’s intention was that the woman should be a “helpmate, his like.” The idea here, is that there would be suitability. When God matches up two people in marriage, He suits them to one another’s needs. They will be two that think alike and walk together.
2) “To Avoid Fornication”
Secondly, 1st Corinthians 7:2 Says, “Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.” Here we have another reason, and that is, to avoid getting into fornication. Now you might think that that is a rather low and base reason for marriage. And yes, it is perhaps the lowest of reasons, but it is a reason—and it is a Scriptural reason! I’m just waiting for the next young man to say (and I’ve heard it said), “Oh, who needs to get married; I’m not going to get married.” And I’m going to say, “Who needs to get married?—you do! YOU need to get married.” We know how we’re made, and we all have the flesh in us, and we all have those fallen instincts. God knows it well and has provided marriage to take care of us from getting off into sin as He mentions here.
3) “The Ministry of the Saints”
Thirdly, let’s look at 1st Corinthians 16:15-16, “I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,) that ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.” Here was a man who had a household, which would mean that he had a wife, and I would assume children too, and perhaps servants as well, because the word for “house” here is larger than a man’s immediate family.
This “house of Stephanas” was marked out by the Apostle as being a model household that supported the testimony of the Lord in Corinth. It was used for the help and strengthening of the assembly in that locality. And I believe that this is another reason why God has given us marriage—to be a support for the Christian testimony. This aspect of marriage views it as a partnership in the service of the Lord. Priscilla and Aquila are an example of this (Acts 18:2-3, 24-282And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. 3And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers. (Acts 18:2‑3)
24And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. 26And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. 27And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace: 28For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, showing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ. (Acts 18:24‑28); Rom. 16:3-43Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: 4Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. (Romans 16:3‑4); 1 Cor. 16:1919The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. (1 Corinthians 16:19); 2 Tim. 4:1919Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. (2 Timothy 4:19)). Younger brethren thinking about getting married should be exercised about this aspect of things. If the Lord leaves us here a little while longer, many of you will get married and will have a household; and we trust that it will be used for that purpose. We must not think only of the personal benefits that we get out of marriage (and there are plenty of them); we should also consider the side of things that would include the service of the Lord and the support of His testimony.
You know; if there weren’t this aspect of marriage, there would be no household, and without households it would be unlikely that there would be assemblies, because households are the backbone of assembly life. There is a great need in this area in the assemblies today. There are a number of gatherings all over the country; many of them are weak and few in number and need to be strengthened. You can be a great help in this area by having a solid marriage and a household that is wholly committed to the service of the Lord. We are thankful for those who have their homes open to the saints, and who support the testimony of the Lord in their locality. Gaius’ household, in 3 John 5-75Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers; 6Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well: 7Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles. (3 John 5‑7), would be another example of this.
4) “Christ and the Church.”
A fourth purpose of marriage is given in Ephesians 5:25, 29-3225Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (Ephesians 5:25)
29For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. (Ephesians 5:29‑32), “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it. ... For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: for we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” I see here another beautiful purpose of marriage—and that is, to display a miniature picture of Christ and the Church. The way in which we behave in our Christian marriages should be a replica of Christ’s love for the Church, and the Church’s submission to Him. Of course, we fall short of it, but it should be our aim.