THE MARRIAGE COVENANT (10): HAVE NO “PLAN B”
During our premarital counselling class, our teacher asked me, “What is one thing that your wife will do that will make you leave her?” I didn’t hesitate to answer, “Whatever will make Christ leave the church as His bride.” The man was stunned and said, “Let us be practical here. There are things that can actually make you leave your wife. What is that for you?” My response remained the same. I had no escape route. I was committed for life. I had settled it then.
Under the covenant, you must decide to maintain a faithful, lifelong relationship with your spouse regardless of circumstances. If one person enters marriage with complete commitment, while the other views it as a trial or experiment, challenges will arise. If one partner starts planning an exit when storms come, while the other says, “I am here for life,” difficulties will follow.
Recall when Jesus taught some very hard things, it was easy for some followers to turn away. But it was not so for Peter and the apostles. When Jesus asked them, “Are you also going?” you hear the voice of someone with no Plan B (Plan A refers to the original plan, while Plan B is an alternative if Plan A fails). Some people enter marriage with Plan B, or even multiple plans. They lack true commitment.
John 6:68-69 NKJV
But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. [69] Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
What significant record do you have of your union? Do you have a word from the Lord? What do you believe about your spouse and your marriage? What do you understand about this journey?
In the words of Ruth, you hear the voice of someone without a Plan B. They are committed for life. It’s not a fair-weather or short-term commitment. It’s a deep conviction that “This is the right person and the right place for me.”
Ruth 1:16-17 NKJV
But Ruth said: “Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. [17] Where you die, I will die, And there I be buried. The LORD do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me.”
That is the sound of true commitment. Stop threatening to leave your marriage over minor disagreements. Don’t joke around with such threats either. Where commitment exists, the covenant speaks. Where there’s no sense of dedication, the marriage is vulnerable to breaking.
Are you in this for life?
Are you just experimenting?
Marriage commitment should have no Plan B!