Recapturing Commitment

By Tom Atwood - May 15, 2007 - 1 -

One of the shocking realities of my young adulthood was finding that many of my peers did not have a happy childhood. A wealthy college friend who regularly wanted to go home with me for the weekend once said, “You are so lucky!” His comment took me by surprise. He drove a new Jaguar, wore the trendiest clothes, and had unlimited spending money. I was attending college on a scholarship, and my family worked hard to make ends meet.

“Why?” I asked. I still remember his reply: “Because your parents love you.”

He was right. There was never a time when I did not know that my parents loved me, loved each other, and loved my brother and sister as they did me. How could I know that? My parents certainly were never able to shower me with the material possessions that my friend took for granted. My parents showed their love by faithfulness, to each other and to us. It was a practical faithfulness demonstrated by consistently sacrificing themselves and their own desires to make life better for each other and for us.

Obviously, many men and women are no longer committed to lifelong faithfulness as increases in adultery, divorce, and cohabitation have shocked those inside and outside the church. Personal sacrifice for the good of one one’s spouse or children is a lost concept.

The dynamics that have propelled our culture to such confusion are powerful. Some are obvious; others are subtle. Postmodern thinking has led many to reject absolutes and affirm relative morality, contributing to a culture based on pleasure and personal fulfillment.

God created a man and a woman to live in harmony with His world, with each other, and with Him. The rebellion of Adam and Eve brought devastation to these relationships. Biblical history pulls no punches. It tells of Abraham’s “loaning” of Sarah to Pharaoh and of David’s adultery. Paul said the church at Corinth had problems with sexual immorality that were worse than those of the pagans.

Faithfulness in marriage is the only paradigm consistent with biblical revelation, however. Jesus defined God’s creation of humans as male and female as having been motivated by the Creator’s desire that the two become “one flesh” (Matt. 19:5-6).

The fruit of this “one flesh” covenant is physically manifested in the conception and birth of a child. Scripture speaks of the family bearing witness to God’s design. The final result is not just two fulfilled adults but a family of parents and children who live together in mutual love, loyalty, and faithful trust.

Trust that flows from faithfulness is essential to every human relationship. Husbands and wives must trust each other, and children need to sense that trust. It becomes an emotional and moral foundation upon which children’s confidence in themselves, in others, and, most critically, in their God is built.

Faithfulness models the trustworthiness of Christ Himself. Obviously, no one equals Christ’s perfections while in this life. He is the One who is always faithful because He is God incarnate, crucified, resurrected, and exalted. He reveals God’s attributes.

It is only when we recognize and appreciate God’s enduring faithfulness to us in Christ—in spite of our many imperfections—that we are able to demonstrate such loving devotion to those around us.

Tom Atwood is a minister living in Oxford, Mississippi.

Further Learning

Learn more about: Faith, Bible, Family, Marriage, Divorce/Remarriage,

{comment_total} comments

1 On Jul 23rd, 2007, at 8:48pm, Robin Brown wrote:

I’m looking for resources or articles supporting marriage with good arguments against cohabitation. Can you help me?

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