Marriage is Ministry

So I am perusing the library with the girls a few night ago... I have really been enjoying our local library in the last year or so, but I digress. In my perusing, I happen to run across a book that peaks my interest since I am raising daughters: What He Must Be...if he wants to marry my daughter- Voddie Baucham Jr. Since Buttercup and I are on the precipice of having our teenager enter the dating years, I thought it would be worth the read. I have just begin but have already uncovered a few nuggets that have finally gotten me off my butt and starting back on the "blogging train" (no thanks to be chided on a regular basis by Toirdhealbheach Beucail or "Wrenny" as my youngest for some reason decided to call him)

The author was describing the difference of singleness vs marriage as it relates to the Bible, when you mentioned that Marriage is a Ministry and is there no higher calling than marriage? Being raised as a PK and brought up in the Church, I have understood the Biblical significance of marriage but have never really thought of it in this context before. What actions, thoughts, behaviors would change if I actually viewed my marriage as a ministry?

Martin Luther describes marriage this way: "The ultimate purpose is to obey God, to find aid of counsel against sin; to call upon God; to seek love, to educate children for the glory of God; to live with one's wife in the fear of God and to bear the cross." Not a small task if you ask me but one that is critical to the health and future of the children that we are called to raise.

The importance of my role as a Dad to my daughters has been brought up many, many times in this household in relation to how they will choose their future husband. Yikes! This is not something that is very easy to swallow and one area that I admit that I do not spend enough time thinking about or focusing on. Also, in contemplating Martin Luther's words it is apparent that I do indeed have some work to do in this area.

The author gives a great definition in the same chapter about the role of a husband and father and one that I am going to spend some time reflecting on: "Who a man is as a husband and father to a large degree shapes who he is as a minister of the Gospel."