Faith, Your Marriage, and God’s Plan Part 2

On our last study we looked at the Purpose of Your Marriage. Today we will continue building on the marriage and Pronouncement about marriage. 
When God brought Eve to Adam, Adam made a very profound and defining statement that reveals the design and plan God had in mind for marriage. 
Genesis 2:23   ‘This is now bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh’
As Adam looked upon Eve he was completely and totally satisfied with God’s gift to him and he embraced and accepted. 
1. Adam's Announcement
First… Adam’s Acceptance of Eve
Adam must have been overwhelmed with God’s goodness in creating Eve for him. Think about this… what do you think it must have felt like to have all of creation brought before you, male and female, only to realize that in all the world there was no one else like you. Adam was facing a lonely existence. 
Listen husbands… one of the most important foundations of marriage is acceptance. At the first when you first starting dating you never seen any faults in her… you were taken with her beauty, her personality, and her character. Far too often over time you allow yourself to focus on the negative, the small things in which you never payed attention to years ago… 
By the way… you were looking for someone to accept you too and you found that someone in the gift God gave you, your wife. Acceptance builds relationships. The lack of acceptance that develops over time is a destructive poison in a relationship. 
When you begin to criticize, critique, and judge you spouse you are simply chipping away at Beth foundation of your relationship. With each passing day and each blow of the hammer chipping away at the marital foundation its not long before we find a marriage with division, bitterness, and without forgiveness. 
One of the best ways to keep a spirit os acceptance is the thank God daily for what He has given you in your spouse. Rather than critiquing and complaining about what you think is missing, what not be grateful for what God has given you. Remember, your spouse is the gift God gave you. 
Secondly… Adam Honored Eve
1 Peter 3:7    Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with [them] according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
Honor = a valuing by which the price is fixed, of the price itself, of the price paid or received for a person or thing bought or sold, honour which belongs or is shown to one, of the honour which one has by reason of rank and state of office which he holds, deference, reverence
God created men and women differently according to His divine plan, purpose, and design. So we see then the need for marriage to be a relationship of honor. 
Husbands need to demonstrate honor to their wives. It is a joy for a Christian husband to hold open a door, slide out a chair, to think ahead of her in household choirs (fold the towels, unload the dishwasher, etc…) to comfort her when she is struggling with something emotional, to express appreciation for her. She needs to know she is special to you. 
Wives need to demonstrate honor to their husband as well. Far too often cruel and cutting words are spoken in public. The wife should refrain from humiliation and offer encouragement to their husbands. Just as the wife needs to know they are special, the husband needs to they are appreciated. 
Adam readied Eve was something very special. Eve was made just for Adam. Think about what God designed. God created Adam and knew everything about Adam. God knew what Adam needed and He met that need with Eve, his wife. 
God’s gift to you is your spouse and they deserved to be honored and appreciated. Your desire should be to be a blessing to your spouse. You should want your spouse to know how you feel about him or her, and you need to express your feelings audibly. This is a kind of honor and respect that builds strong and healthy relationships and in turn build a foundation for your marriage.