Genesis 2:18-24 (24) For this reason a man will leave his father and
mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

 This past Monday was a beautiful day.  Not in the way you might think
but rather a beautiful day because of the privilege that I had to attend
the funeral of a Christian woman.  That's right, I said I was at a
funeral on Monday.  It was not a sad affair.  It was not a ritual filled
with grief and mourning although there were tears.  It was a day of joy.
Even the husband of this woman, married to her for 56 years was want to
speak of the victory that was hers, rather than to dwell on the loss that
was his.  I attended the funeral of Mrs. Lorraine Kuske, wife of Pastor
Herbert Kuske.  I am telling you it was a day of joy, joy in the Lord.
 As I sat there and listened to a wonderful sermon about this woman's
Savior, I marveled.  But what really got to me was the Pastor's
introduction.  He spoke about this woman's life in brief.  He mentioned
how she felt privileged to serve her Lord by being involved in her
church, that is, the many churches that her husband served.  He spoke of
how she weathered the many storms that can be found in the parsonage,
oftentimes unaware of what it was that caused the stress or the joy that
might invade the home.  What I liked most is how Pastor Johnston
mentioned she would compliment his sermons.  She would compliment his
sermons only when they were good and only when they were about her
Savior.  That, he emphasized, was the measure of her life.  Her Savior!
 As I listened I thought of what a blessing she had been to her husband.
I thought of what a blessing my wife has been for me.  I thought of the
many Christian wives that I have known, yes, women of this congregation
whose measure in life is their Savior.  I thought of what a good
introduction this woman and her Savior would be for a sermon on the
blessings of family with the right text.  And then when I got home and
looked up the texts for this Sunday, lo and behold, here were the perfect
texts.  So there was no doubt as to what the Sermon would be on.  Let's
then consider our text under this theme: GOD's GIFT OF MARRIAGE.  1st.
Its purpose.  2nd. Its blessing.  3rd. Its foundation.
 We find in the words before us the very history of this world as it
unfolded, a history revealed to Moses by God and recorded for us in God's
Holy Word.  Just so you know, I believe this history is absolutely true
and happened in the way recorded.  I think most of you recognize it as
the history of the beginning of mankind and the world.  It contains
important lessons.
 It seems that sometime after God's completion of his Creating of the
world he took the next steps that He had planned for mankind.  The plan
was clear.  It was God's intention to provide a suitable helper for Adam
so that Adam would not have to be alone.  To impress on Adam his
uniqueness and I also believe to help Adam grasp the importance of the
gift he was about to receive please note what God did.  He had all the
animals come before the man that man might name them.  But there was
another reason for this parade.  As Adam looked over all the animals he
saw that there was no suitable helper for him in the world.  Adam didn't
look at the ape or chimpanzee and say that that was good enough.  Nope,
Adam knew he was unique as a human and Adam knew that among the creatures
of the earth there was no other like him.
 That's when God took action.  God caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep.
 God took one of Adam's ribs and from that rib, material from Adam, God
formed that suitable helper for Adam.  God had made the woman.  God had
made it so that Adam did not have to be alone.  God had given him a
companion.  It was someone like him, a human but someone not like him, a
woman.  Eve was the name she was given.  With the coming of Eve came the
wonder and joys of family.  The wonder and joys of companionship,
partnership and of course the blessings of children.  Now mankind was
complete and now mankind could multiply and fill the Earth as God
desired.  In a moment of great wonder and joy the family and all that it
entailed was brought forth.
 Do you see in this purposeful beginning the plan and purpose of family?
God gave Eve so that Adam would not be alone.  God gave us relationship
and companionship for our good and well being.  God also gave a
partnership in marriage.  A partnership that would benefit mankind and
serve for the good.  It served for the good by bringing forth the wonders
of love.  It also served for the good by providing the means for
producing children.  If you are like me you realize that God's plan was
wonderful.  So wonderful that the purposes of marriage also end up being
the blessings of marriage.
 Let's talk about those blessings in greater detail.  First, we need to
make sure to grasp the heart and core of this gift.  Eve was given
because as God noted, "it is not good for the man to be alone.  I will
make a helper suitable for him."  God had created Adam to be a social
being, to be a creature that sought out and enjoyed the benefits of
relationship.  It is for this reason that God notes it was not good for
the man to be alone.  In that regard note a few things.  Even though Adam
had a relationship with God, a direct one, God still had planned that
Adam should have someone like himself, that is, that Adam should have
that human relationship and the human contact that comes with it.  Note
also that God did not supply a Steve for this companionship of marriage,
nor did God supply a Eve, Jane, and Sally for this marriage
companionship.  The lesson is clear here.  God provided companionship in
marriage with Eve.  Companionship was a part of God's overall plan for
his creation.  It is a blessing we still enjoy.
 Second note that God made for Adam a "suitable helper."  The beauty of
these words is amazing.  These words speak of Adam's compliment, of
someone who was equal to and who corresponds to him.  Eve was going to
help Adam, to work with him, share with him, care with him, take care of
God's creation with him and be an utter blessing in Adam's life.  Adam
and Eve went together like hot and cold, up and down, bright and dark.
They were made for each other and that Hebrew phrase clearly declares
this.
 I marvel that still in today's sinful world this truth of God can be
seen.  What man is the woman is not.  What the woman is the man is not.
We were meant to complete each other, not compete against each other.  We
were meant to care for each other not hurt each other.  We were meant to
serve the Lord together not have all around us serve us.  Marriage was
never to be a selfish thing but an opportunity to practice the love and
care that God has showered on us.  It is when we forget this purpose and
blessing of God in our marriages that they become the blight we have made
them.  God's purpose and blessing is clear.  There is to be a
companionship, a partnership, a relationship of serving each other and
the Lord.  Let's work to enjoy it.
 Finally there is the last blessing that God bestows upon the man and his
wife.  It is the blessing of children.  Please note that the propagation
of the species was always the plan of God in his entire creation.  Name
one animal that was created without the ability to produce its own?  You
will find none.  Male and female God created them.  The whole world with
its population of creatures shows God's intent and purpose in this
blessing.  Thus it is with the human.  Male and female he created them.
Created them to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.
 Yet please note that because of the sin that Adam and Eve brought into
the world the estate of marriage is often hard pressed.  Husbands and
wives, parents and children who forget to love and care.  Family members
who forget what a blessing and joy it is that we have each other and that
God has given us each other.  Parents who have children only to pass them
off to someone else to raise!  And we wonder why our children are often
struggling in this world.  Or the issue of divorce that Jesus spoke of in
our Gospel reading.  Divorce is caused "because our hearts are hard."
Clearly, though the world approves of divorce, God does not.  All because
we forget to love and guide each other in the wonders of life.  Remember,
we live in a world that wants to undermine and destroy this beautiful
institution that our God has given.
 Let us not fall prey to the ways of the world.  Let us rather, as God
children, called to faith through the Holy Spirit work all the more to
see to it that our lives and our families are a reflection of these
purposes and blessings that God has given.  Let us make sure that we
grasp the very foundation that our marriages are to be.
 What do I mean by that?  Simply, that we conduct our marriages by the
standard of God's Word and revelation.  If you have been blessed by a
spouse then rejoice in that wonderful gift of God.  But in looking for
that blessing pay attention to who and what you are marrying.  Choose
according to the standards that God has set and once that choice is made,
love according to the standards of God.  The standard of love that God
has set is found in our Savior Jesus.  His was an unselfish love.  He was
not concerned with himself but rather with those around him.  He was not
afraid of the sacrifice and hardship that would be his, yes, even dying
on the cross for the sake of those He loved.  He came and showed us love
and patience, care and compassion, but recognize that he also called sin
sin and rotten and immoral behavior wrong!  Most of all, he came to grant
us forgiveness.
 Here is a real key.  To forgive each other as Christ has forgiven us.
To overlook those faults and foolish times of our lives (and we all have
them) that caused us hurt or pain.  To realize that when we have hurt or
caused pain to others we are to be repentant and let those we have hurt
know that we are sorry.  Then be like Jesus and when we hear that
repentance grant forgiveness purely out of love and care.  I believe the
model of love and forgiveness that Jesus has shown is one of the most
important aspects of our marriages and our lives.
 What God has given us we are to give to our loved ones.  If you have
blessings, share those blessings with those around you.  If you have
gifts, share those gifts for the good of those around you.  If you are
loved by the Lord then share that love with those around you.  Pay
attention to what God says of marriage rather than what the world says
and hypes.
 But it goes even further.  The example and blessings of our marriages
are also to extend to our other relationships in the Lord.  As we love
those at home, let us love our friends and fellow believers.  As we
nurture our relationships at home through repentance, respect, honor and
forgiveness show that same attitude with friends and fellow believers.
The marriage and the families that result are the bricks laid upon Christ
our foundation.  But there is a whole building that needs to be impacted.
 Children, extended family, friends, church family, neighbors and the
like are that building.  All of these benefit when we practice and carry
out the wonders and blessings of marriage and family that God has given.
 Just one final note.  Some, like the Apostle Paul are not moved and
motivated to marriage and that is also a fine and wonderful gift of the
Lord.  Being single doesn't mean we don't practice and share in some of
the blessings that God still gives in family nor does it mean that God's
Word doesn't apply to us.  Truth is, we all come from families.  We have
learned our love and care from those families.  Practice that blessing of
Christ even though single.  Practice it with the family, friends and
church family God has given.  In other words, living your life according
to God's Word still impacts and is to motivate you too.
 God bless our families.  God shower his love all the more on our lives.
God help us to keep Jesus and his loving examples always before us in
everything that we do.  Amen.