Let no man put asunder...?

We've probably all been to a wedding at some point in our lifetime, if not to your own then at least to somebody else's. A common phrase often mentioned once the couple have completed their vows is "And what God has put together, let no man put asunder” (originating from Matt 19:6 "So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” (NKJV)). Even with this affirmation, 42% of marriages in England and Wales end up in divorce (ONS 2012). Similar rates are also reported out of the US. Why is this?

That is obviously a loaded question and clearly, there is a multitude of reasons why people separate but what about the believers amongst us? Those of us who are Bible-believing Christians surely feel the extra weight of such a declaration. Unfortunately, we too are subject to the same demise as non-believers. When a believer gets a divorce, I often do find myself asking the same question: “Did God put them together in the first place?” Was man or flesh able to infiltrate the relationship so much so that it had to come to end? That is a REAL question! One, I believe, deep down, we all know the answers to. This post isn't about bashing anybody who has been divorced but more of an exploration into the reason why we get into certain relationships in the first place. See it as a litmus test for those seeking new relationships or currently in one that needs confirmation before becoming more serious. I usually go off of having a certain “peace" about a situation before deciding to embark on major decisions in general. As far as marriage is concerned, these questions might be a good place to start: 1) Do you feel settled in their presence? 2) Can you see yourself with this person 10 years from now? 3) If you decide to have children, would you be happily co-parenting with his person? 4) If they became sick would you be willing to sacrifice self in order to help them get back on their feet? These are some questions a person should ask themselves before pursuing a covenant with God. I pray that we all do our best to uphold the covenant we make before God and ask the Holy Spirit to ensure that man does not separate what God has joined together.