Hope for the Family

A Christian marriage is based on deep appreciation and respect for Christ and humbly submitting to each other (Ephesians 5:18-33).
 
Marriage is not for status or a sense of security. It is also not for fulfilling our needs, like consumers looking for products to satisfy them.
 
Instead, Christian couples should submit to each other, each committing to serve the other. Wives should learn to grant leadership to their husbands, while husbands should learn to love their wives as they love their own bodies. Each side acts appropriately, even if the other side doesn’t reciprocate.
 
Submitting and serving do not equate to giving in. Look at Christ. He loves us and served us to the point of death, but He confronts us with the truth to help us grow and be holy.
 
We shouldn’t be self-centered because we know we are sinners saved by Christ. We shouldn’t be needy for others’ affirmation since we know the Almighty God loves us.
 
Also, note that marriage is not the ultimate relationship, and will not fill the deepest void in our hearts. Only Christ can. Don’t think that (a) marrying the right person will guarantee a perfect life, (b) having a wonderful family will be nirvana, or (c) marrying the right person will make us somebody. No one can replace God in our life. Putting someone in the place of God will totally destroy our relationship with the person.
 
Furthermore, don’t worry excessively about not finding the right person. There is no ideal mate. Even if you think you have found a perfect match, that person will change and will be influenced by others. So don’t be too cautious.
 
To conclude, Christ should be our ultimate spouse, who loves us and never lets us down. Let Him be the center of our life, so that we may love and serve our earthly spouses.

​Summarized from a Tim Keller sermon:
http://www.gospelinlife.com/free-sermon-resource
https://gospelinlife.com/downloads/hope-for-the-family-6025/


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家的希望
 
基督徒婚姻的基础建立在对基督深切的感激和尊重,以及彼此谦卑顺服（以弗所书5：18-33）。
 
婚姻不是为了地位或安全感，也不是像消费者寻找满意的产品。
 
相反的，基督徒夫妻应当彼此顺服，彼此承诺服事对方。妻子要学习让丈夫作头，而丈夫则要学习爱妻子如同爱自己的身体。每人当尽自己的本分,尽管对方也许没有相应的回应。
 
顺服和服事对方并不等于屈服。请看基督：祂爱我们，为我们舍己。但祂以真理来直面教导我们，帮助我们成长并成为圣洁。
 
因为知道自己是基督所拯救的罪人,不应再以自我为中心，。我们也不应需要别人的肯定，因为我们知道全能的上帝爱我们。
 
另外，婚姻不是最终的关系，也不会填补我们内心深处的虚空。只有基督才可以。不要以为（a）与合适的人结婚会带来完美的一生，（b）拥有一个美好的家庭就是极乐世界，或者（c）与合适的人结婚会使自己成为重要人物。没有人可以取代神在我们生命中的地位。让对方扮演上帝的角色会完全破坏您们之间的关系。
 
再进一步，不必太担心找不到合适的人。没有人是绝对理想的。即使您以为找到了完美的伴侣，那人也会改变,也会受周围的人影响。因此不用太过谨慎。
 
总而言之，我们最终的配偶应是基督，祂爱我们,永远不会让我们失望。让基督为生命的中心，然后爱并且服事地上的配偶。