LOVE, LOVE AND MARRIAGE, LOVE AND PURPOSE

Rev. Richie,

                              @ Household of David Online Church.

Presenting,

         LOVE, LOVE AND MARRIAGE, LOVE AND PURPOSE.

Love theorists have defined love as situated in any of Eros, Philio and Agape.

Eros: sexual love

Philio: Fraternal love

Agape: Divine Love.

But I’d love to describe the above as elements of love because Love in its purest form consists of all the elements (eros, philio and agape) depending on the object of affection.

For example, Love for a partner of the opposite sex- my intended maybe?; Eros takes the lead,- we must be able to relate sexually (only within the confines of marriage though!), she may be my closest pal and confidant- Philio; and we share a common faith and trust in the Divine- Agape. Sounds like a three fold cord!

Another example, the Love of God or Divine Love- Agape; functions in dual dimensions, God’s Love for you and me, and then our love towards Papa God. I’d like to quote from the gospel according to Saint John 3:16 and first John 4:19.

“For God so Loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”

“We love Him; because He first Loved us.”

“Agape Love” gave Mother Mary the miracle child; the Lord Christ… (See Matthew 1:18-20) …I think that’s eros. “Phillio Love” called Father Abraham His friend. (See Genesis 18:17 and 2Chronicles 20:7).

1Corinthians 13:1-3

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity (agape+phillio+eros), I am become a sounding brass or tinkling cymbal.

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains and have not charity (agape+phillio+eros), I am nothing.

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity (agape+phillio+eros). It profiteth me nothing.

POINTS TO NOTE.

•  For the want of agape Love and phillio love: (the Love of God) and fraternal love (love for and among brethren or the brotherhood); some have forsaken the assembly of the brethren. (See Hebrews 10:25).
•   For the want of eros- sexual love; some forbade marriage or the union of the sexes. (See 1Timothy 4:1&3). Love is of God. 1John 4:7.
•   Charity (from the root word from which the words charisma, charismatic and charitable derived their meanings) is “the bond of perfectness”. See Colossians 3:14.

 LOVE AND MARRIAGE.

Marriage is the oldest divine institution; ordained even before the church!

Genesis 2:18

And it is not good that man should be alone, I will make a help-meet for him.

Papa God said these after He had created man and put him in the garden “to dress it and to keep it”. This is man’s purpose in God’s divine preordainment… but then among all of God’s creatures, there was no help-meet meet for Adam to help him fulfil this assignment. So the Lord took a rib from a side of his, made Eve (the woman) and brought her to the man Adam… and Genesis 2:24;

“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave unto his wife; and they shall be one flesh”. (See Ephesians 5:31).

It follows from the above that:

Ø God gave man a purpose- an assignment before He gave him an help-meet.

Ø Man needs a companion to fulfil God’s assignment hence the need of an help-meet.

Ø Papa God created or made woman for the man to help him fulfil his assignment.

1Corinthians 11:9

Neither was the man created for the woman but the woman for the man.

 WHY MARRIAGE?

1Corinthians 11:11

Nevertheless neither is man without the woman, neither the woman without the man in the Lord.

Across cultures, people have divers purposes for getting married or desiring marriage. Some of these are:

•  The desire for economic security and financial gains. “I want a guy to take care of me” or “this girl is rich; let me marry her to take over her possessions”. WRONG!
•  The crave to escape parental control. “I want to leave home”. WRONG!
•  People marry to boost their social status and widen their social circle… as in so called celebrity or society weddings. WRONG!
•  Parents give their children in marriage to seal the bond of family friendship. WRONG!
•  People get married to foreign nationals to secure resident permits in these countries. WRONG!
•  An influential business owner might give a child in marriage to a brilliant staff; such executives become family and help manage the “family business”. WRONG!
•  People get married because they feel they ain’t getting younger. WRONG! You can marry at any age!
•  People might want to get married to have children or procreate. Sorry sir! WRONG! That’s putting the cart before the horse!

The only reason that’s worth the marriage is: you have discovered a purpose to justify your existence and you need an help-meet by your side in the fulfilment of that purpose.

This is a convenient place to stop.

 Think upon what we’ve shared today and I believe the Lord will order your steps in destiny.

 I almost came close to aborting God’s call on my life because of trying to make things happen in the area of marriage… I only awoke to reality after so many heartbreaks and heartaches, but thank God! They’re only growth pains.

 I bless the Lord God almighty for His mercy bestowed upon my life! I’m blessed, so are you! AMEN.

SHALOM, GOD’S PEACE!

@household of david online church@facebook.com/olu-davies bidemi.

                 All scripture quotations from the King James Version of the Bible. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.