Men Counseling Men by John D. Street

Author:John D. Street
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780736949279
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers

Why Leaving and Cleaving Is Important

You now have a better understanding of…

• the basic principles of leaving and cleaving

• the connection between leaving and cleaving, and loving and leading your wife

• the need to demonstrate in your life the principles of leaving and cleaving, and to encourage your wife to do the same

• the marriage covenant, in which you pledge to make your wife your lifelong companion with whom you have a unique and lasting bond

But why is leaving and cleaving so important? There are two reasons:

First, when Christians obey God’s command to leave and cleave, they are fulfilling the function for which they were created. In doing so, they are glorifying God, which is worship.

Second, there are blessings that attend biblical leaving and cleaving. By God’s grace and provision, marriages will become stronger because husbands and wives are united in their purpose for living—to glorify and honor God in their practice of living as they function in their proper roles, and in their pleasure in living as they enjoy both intimacy with and commitment to each other. A life lived in the pursuit of biblical leaving and cleaving is a blessed life indeed!

Getting Started

As important as leaving and cleaving is in helping build or strengthen a marriage, it is even more important for a person to have the ability to leave and cleave. That may sound like a strange statement—you may be thinking, What do you mean by “ability”? Isn’t this just a matter of not depending on my parents anymore, loving my wife, and showing her how it’s done? Well, not exactly. What I mean by “ability” is the unique capability that comes only through having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Why do I say that? Because anyone who really wants to can take steps to eliminate inappropriate parental dependence and replace it with an appropriate dependence on his/her spouse. But those are simply outward actions. Such actions may make living with your wife, parents, and in-laws a little easier, but they will do nothing for how you get along with God. For a Christian, however, it’s different. With the Lord Jesus Christ’s help, you’ll have the power you need to make the tough choices that leaving and cleaving requires, and in the end, He will be honored by your success.

Now, to honor someone means to pay respect to that person, to esteem and appreciate him for who he is or what he has done. The Bible teaches that it is impossible for us to truly honor God, no matter how good our intentions may be, unless we first know His Son and honor Him. Jesus Himself makes this point clear. In John 5:21-27, He said:

As the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.

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