Biblical Answer

God's design for marriage is multifaceted and deeply rooted in His creative genius. The Bible teaches that marriage is an amazing institution that reflects God's creative order, but it was not designed to compete with God Himself. In fact, when we try to derive the largest portion of our life's fulfillment from our relationship with our spouse, we are asking too much from marriage. God's design for marriage is not about self-fulfillment, but about reflecting His nature and purposes.

One of the key aspects of God's design for marriage is the unity and oneness that it is meant to bring. The Bible teaches that marriage is a reflection of the three unities: oneness of heart and mind, oneness of body, and oneness in God. This unity is essential for achieving the full potential of human relationships. Furthermore, God's design for marriage is meant to reflect His own nature and purposes. As the Bible says, "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh" (Genesis 2:24). This union is not just a human relationship, but a reflection of the love and unity that exists between God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Ultimately, God's design for marriage goes beyond our individual happiness and comfort. It is meant to reflect His love and purposes, and to serve as a platform for us to actively serve Him and bring knowledge of His redemptive plan to others. In marriage, we reflect the nature of God, with equality in importance but difference in roles. This design is not about self-fulfillment, but about reflecting God's creative order and purposes. As we seek to understand and live out God's design for marriage, we must be willing to look beyond our own desires and comfort, and to see marriage as a means of serving God and bringing glory to Him.