A few years ago, Christopher West stated, “God gave us the power to love as He loves, so that we would be able to participate in the divine life and fulfill the very meaning of our being and existence.” Today, it seems like some couples don’t view matrimony the same way as most everyone did thirty years ago. These days, when people say “I do,” they aren’t planning on forever, and most of these couples just jump right into the marriage- knowing they can easily get out of it at any given moment if unhappy. However, what most people don’t understand is that marriage is favorable and honorable in the sight of God and needs to be brought back in today’s society for the sake of security, the child’s life, and respect to the Author and Creator of love.
Need-
I. For a woman, marriage brings a sense of security and a provider.
· According to the writers of Marriage and the Common Good, marriage combats depression, provides particularly high psychological benefits, and lowers the risk of suicide.
· It says in the bible that every person longs to feel desired and cared for. What marriage brings for the woman are a soul mate, a best friend, and someone who should stick by her through anything. When people say “I do,” it means standing beside that person no matter the situation.
· Married women are less likely to suffer long term chronic illnesses than single women. Emotionally and physically, men are stronger human beings and don’t usually need another person to depend on as much as a woman does. Not only do men provide love and compassion for women, but they also provide a chance to bring another human into the world.
Transition-
I have explained why marriage is healthy for a woman, but now I will explain how it is also important for the emotional development of the child.
II. Children lead healthier and longer lives if parents get and stay married.
· Marriage promotes the common good by building families and raising children.
· In the article of Marriage Matters, Maggie Gallagher says that “Children do best when they grow up in married, two-parent families. They're more likely to finish school, have good marriages of their own, and avoid problems such as teenage pregnancy, drug and alcohol abuse, and juvenile delinquency.”
· Children are 47% less likely to suffer neglect when they grow up in a two- parent home, and they are 55% less likely to be abused. They need special attention while growing up and it is hard for them to get all the attention they need when they only have one parent raising them.
· More than anything, children who are not raised in a functional house hold are typically more likely to have lower expectations in life, verses children who grew up with parents who maintained their marriage.
Transition-
I have explained why marriage is not only healthy for a woman, but how it affects the child’s development. Now I will tell how marriage is viewed through God’s eyes.
III. Of all the ways God chooses to reveal His life and love in the created world, Paul says that marriage is the most fundamental.
· Marriage according to Webster Dictionary is a social institution under which a man and woman establish their decision to live as husband and wife by legal commitments, religious ceremonies, etc.
· God says that marriage is a sacred bond that is between a man and woman, and when they make that pact- it is meant to last forever through any trials.
· In Chapter 5 of Ephesians, verse 31; Paul says, “For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and cling to his bride, and the two shall become of one flesh.” In many other verses of the bible, we can clearly see that marriage is a holy covenant before God. Yet, in today’s society- tragedy of rape against women and children, STDs, unwed mothers, “fatherless children,” abortion, adultery, plus the general cloud of shame and guilt that hangs over sexual matters, all show the tragedy of our sinfulness and fall from God’s intention for us in the beginning.
· God makes all things new and He wants happiness for His children. Studies show that married adults would rate their life as “excellent or good,” opposed to a single adult who would rate their life as just “average.”
Satisfaction-
As we have seen throughout the past few decades, the divorce rate continues to grow, along with the number of unwed parents. We need to inform people at a younger age of how marriage is important and a healthy part of life. We also need to inform others that they need to fight for their marriage and try working things out before ending it all and getting divorced. Of course there are times where divorce is the only way out, but couples need to analyze the relationship before making such a commitment.
Visualization-
If more people would understand that marriage is a necessity, rather than just a temporary relationship- we would start seeing improvements and positive outcomes in our society. Children would be more well- behaved because they would have grown up in a two parent home- where they are able to take morals and values from each parent. We would start seeing a healthier lifestyle for everyone around us, because each couple would support and provide for one another and their family as a whole. Throughout this whole situation, we would be able to see God’s blessings pouring out over those who persevere and endure the hardships that may come with marriage.
Plan-
We must make it known to couples that marriage is a big step, and a huge commitment that most people aren’t mature enough to handle just yet. Couples need to realize what they are partaking in before saying “I do.”
· High schools should require a life skills course to be taken informing teens the importance of marriage and the responsibilities that come along with making that commitment.
· We need to write a proposal to the government requesting that each couple who files for divorce attend mandatory marriage counseling classes for at least one year before the judge announces the official divorce. That is if the reason for divorce isn’t including the danger of one’s life. In that case, the class wouldn’t be necessary.
Conclusion-
Marriage is a necessity for the fact that each person needs their soul mate and a secured future. Each man and woman needs to find their significant other, the one that God has created specifically for them, and for the purpose of marriage. So as the preacher says, “Marriage is a solemn institution to be held in honor by all, it is the cornerstone of the family and of the community. It requires of those who undertake it a complete and unreserved giving of one's self. It is not to be entered into lightly, as marriage is a sincere and mutual commitment to love one another.” With that said, I urge you all to wait patiently for the one God has created specifically for you, for the purpose of marriage.
Need-
I. For a woman, marriage brings a sense of security and a provider.
· According to the writers of Marriage and the Common Good, marriage combats depression, provides particularly high psychological benefits, and lowers the risk of suicide.
· It says in the bible that every person longs to feel desired and cared for. What marriage brings for the woman are a soul mate, a best friend, and someone who should stick by her through anything. When people say “I do,” it means standing beside that person no matter the situation.
· Married women are less likely to suffer long term chronic illnesses than single women. Emotionally and physically, men are stronger human beings and don’t usually need another person to depend on as much as a woman does. Not only do men provide love and compassion for women, but they also provide a chance to bring another human into the world.
Transition-
I have explained why marriage is healthy for a woman, but now I will explain how it is also important for the emotional development of the child.
II. Children lead healthier and longer lives if parents get and stay married.
· Marriage promotes the common good by building families and raising children.
· In the article of Marriage Matters, Maggie Gallagher says that “Children do best when they grow up in married, two-parent families. They're more likely to finish school, have good marriages of their own, and avoid problems such as teenage pregnancy, drug and alcohol abuse, and juvenile delinquency.”
· Children are 47% less likely to suffer neglect when they grow up in a two- parent home, and they are 55% less likely to be abused. They need special attention while growing up and it is hard for them to get all the attention they need when they only have one parent raising them.
· More than anything, children who are not raised in a functional house hold are typically more likely to have lower expectations in life, verses children who grew up with parents who maintained their marriage.
Transition-
I have explained why marriage is not only healthy for a woman, but how it affects the child’s development. Now I will tell how marriage is viewed through God’s eyes.
III. Of all the ways God chooses to reveal His life and love in the created world, Paul says that marriage is the most fundamental.
· Marriage according to Webster Dictionary is a social institution under which a man and woman establish their decision to live as husband and wife by legal commitments, religious ceremonies, etc.
· God says that marriage is a sacred bond that is between a man and woman, and when they make that pact- it is meant to last forever through any trials.
· In Chapter 5 of Ephesians, verse 31; Paul says, “For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and cling to his bride, and the two shall become of one flesh.” In many other verses of the bible, we can clearly see that marriage is a holy covenant before God. Yet, in today’s society- tragedy of rape against women and children, STDs, unwed mothers, “fatherless children,” abortion, adultery, plus the general cloud of shame and guilt that hangs over sexual matters, all show the tragedy of our sinfulness and fall from God’s intention for us in the beginning.
· God makes all things new and He wants happiness for His children. Studies show that married adults would rate their life as “excellent or good,” opposed to a single adult who would rate their life as just “average.”
Satisfaction-
As we have seen throughout the past few decades, the divorce rate continues to grow, along with the number of unwed parents. We need to inform people at a younger age of how marriage is important and a healthy part of life. We also need to inform others that they need to fight for their marriage and try working things out before ending it all and getting divorced. Of course there are times where divorce is the only way out, but couples need to analyze the relationship before making such a commitment.
Visualization-
If more people would understand that marriage is a necessity, rather than just a temporary relationship- we would start seeing improvements and positive outcomes in our society. Children would be more well- behaved because they would have grown up in a two parent home- where they are able to take morals and values from each parent. We would start seeing a healthier lifestyle for everyone around us, because each couple would support and provide for one another and their family as a whole. Throughout this whole situation, we would be able to see God’s blessings pouring out over those who persevere and endure the hardships that may come with marriage.
Plan-
We must make it known to couples that marriage is a big step, and a huge commitment that most people aren’t mature enough to handle just yet. Couples need to realize what they are partaking in before saying “I do.”
· High schools should require a life skills course to be taken informing teens the importance of marriage and the responsibilities that come along with making that commitment.
· We need to write a proposal to the government requesting that each couple who files for divorce attend mandatory marriage counseling classes for at least one year before the judge announces the official divorce. That is if the reason for divorce isn’t including the danger of one’s life. In that case, the class wouldn’t be necessary.
Conclusion-
Marriage is a necessity for the fact that each person needs their soul mate and a secured future. Each man and woman needs to find their significant other, the one that God has created specifically for them, and for the purpose of marriage. So as the preacher says, “Marriage is a solemn institution to be held in honor by all, it is the cornerstone of the family and of the community. It requires of those who undertake it a complete and unreserved giving of one's self. It is not to be entered into lightly, as marriage is a sincere and mutual commitment to love one another.” With that said, I urge you all to wait patiently for the one God has created specifically for you, for the purpose of marriage.
Hmmm... this format looks familiar. This is the same speech outline that Tori Cincotta used for her college class. Good thing I believe in recycling. ;) wink wink.
ReplyDeleteGood job, Megan. But when converting a piece like this, take out the directional outliners and just start with new paragraphs.
Also, add a title.