Model Marriage by Bishop Dag Heward Mills

Model Marriage

There are 4 ways of leaving:

(a) Physical (location).

(b) Economic/financial.

(c) Influence, direction, counsel of parents and other members of the extended family.

(d) Close friends, especially of the opposite sex.^3

3. Companionship^4

(Man was alone, without a friend.)

And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make

him an help meet for him.

Genesis 2:18

4. Openness^5

(Let your spouse know all about you to avoid surprises, mistrust and suspicion.)^6

And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

Genesis 2:21-25

There are 4 ways to be naked/open/transparent:

(a) Historically e.g. past relationships, children

(b) Financially e.g. debts, income, assets, obligations.

(c) Physically e.g. naked at home, sexual liberty.

(d) Spiritually e.g. aspirations in future, personal sins.^7

5. Sex and Reproduction

God’s plan is for sex and reproduction within the context of marriage.^8 Sex and reproduction
outside the context of marriage lead to all kinds of problems––step homes, stepchildren, and
sexually transmitted diseases.

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them

have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the

cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon

the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he

him; male and female created he them.

And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and

replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea,

and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the

earth.

Genesis 1:26-28