CREATED FOR DIVINE ASSIGNMENT! “Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth” —Genesis 1:28.
Marriage is God’s divine assignment and not a parental assignment. Two things stand out in the above text and they both go hand in hand. First, there is a divine purpose of dominion, and secondly there is a divine assignment to that purpose.
An assignment is defined as ‘a task or piece of work assigned to someone as part of a job or course of study. It can be further explained as ‘the task assigned to individual’s reference to some particular social positions.’
Adam was given a particular task from God as part of the DOMINION COURSE that must be accomplished. That assignment or task was given to him, as part of his responsibility referenced to his SOCIAL POSITION as the General Manager in charge of God’s second estate called, EARTH with headquarters in Eden.
THE PURPOSE
Dominion is the reason God created man to dwell on earth. The earth was created to be an extension of God’s kingdom, to be governed through the rulership of man. Dominion is not possible without man living in holiness and in the authority of God’s Word, and that brings us to relationship. A holy man was created by a holy God, that would through God’s relationship and authority rule the earth for Him. God knew that there was going to be an opposition, and that was why He said “subdue”. If there was not going to be a rebellion or any opposition, there wouldn’t have been any need for God to have said subdue. God’s people cannot subdue without the basis of holiness and Obedience. This is what brings us to the place of character and actions, which could be further classified as Relationship and Service. The existence of man on earth is three-fold in natures
- He was created in the image and likeness of God to have relationship with God as His Father;
- He was created to worship God in spirit and in truth;
- He was created to have dominion – exercise kingdom rule on earth on behalf of God.
Purpose Versus Assignment
To every purpose, there is an assignment. An assignment is simply a task that must be accomplished to get to a desired goal, vision or purpose. Purpose can never be achieved without engaging in any form of assignment. We all have a purpose on earth and we have assignments to that purpose. Marriage has a purpose and there are specific assignments that are attached therein!
THE QUESTION OF LOVE AND SUBMISSION!
Was Something Missing in the Garden?
In Genesis, we never read in any place that God commanded Adam to love his wife, nor the place where Eve was commanded to submit to her husband Adam. But wait a minute! Was there any need for God to have them love and submit to each other without being commanded to do so, like husbands and wives are commanded in the New Testament? I will affirmatively say, ‘YES‘. Then, why weren’t they commanded like us? I strongly believe that due to the glory of God that Adam and Eve carried before the fall, they were enriched with supernatural knowledge, so much so that they had the instinct to love and submit to each other. Adam’s quick response to his woman, upon seeing her being brought to him by God, won him the title of being the first romantic poet. (See Gen. 2:23). Without being told, he knew his wife immediately by the supernatural instinct in him. However, things began to fall apart for them the moment they disobeyed God. The first place we read about anything near submission was after the fall, when God passed His judgment on the serpent, Eve and Adam. And particularly to Eve He said “… Your desire shall be for your husband, …” —Gen. 3:16.
Throughout the Old Testament, we see the roles that husbands and wives played in their marriages. However, it was after God had remedied the broken relationship between Him and man that we
Began to see a more serious emphasis on marriage relationship – that is, in the New Testament. I am specifically talking about husbands and wives being commanded to love and submit to each other respectively. Ephesians 5:21-33 has become the main text often used during marriage ceremonies, seminars or family talks. Let us look closely at the assignments God gave to both the husband and wife in Christ.
Matters of Divine Assignment and Violations
Just as God commanded the husbands saying, “.. love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for her…” (Ephesians 5:25), He also commanded wives and said to them, “…, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:22).
Marriage is not without its challenges. These vary from emotional attitudes, s$x and money matters, the fruit of the womb, raising up of children, health issues, in-law issues and parental control, just to mention a few. If marriage was created by God, then He and only Him remains the best teacher and consultant who can teach us to carry out our divine assignment very well. To give a simple understanding over this fifth-point of this agenda, -Marriage created as a divine assignment, I
Deem it fit to state/ask some questions enumerated below.
- Who is the one that gave these commands, and was there any condition attached therein?
- Should a husband or wife demand for love or submission from each other at all cost?
- If the husband and wife refuse to love or submit to the other respectively, who have they disobeyed?
- If a man is loving his wife and the wife refuses to submit to him, who will she be dishonoring, and who will the man be glorifying?
- If a woman submits to her husband who refuses to love her, who has he really dishonored, and who will the woman be glorifying?
There’s nothing as good as when both husband and wife team up together to obey God’s commands to make each other happier. This is highly pleasing to God, because God values the fellowship of togetherness. On the other hand, however, when all hell breaks loose against marriage and it appears like the devil has influenced one partner to fail in his or her own assignment, wouldn’t it be better if the other spouse is still keeping up to his/her commands From God? Sure! It is better for one partner to please God by obeying His commands while still in that marriage, than for both of them to fall out completely in dishonor to God! The only exception may be in life-threatening situations, as in cases of wife-battering and domestic violence.
THREE LEVELS OF ASSIGNMENT
In the New Testament, there are at least three levels of assignment that God gave to man in regards to his family and these include:
- Husbands: loving their wives as Christ loved the church (Ephesians 5:25);
- Wives: submitting to their husbands as it is proper or fitting in the Lord (Colossians 3:18);
- Parents: bringing up their children in the training and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4b).
These three levels of assignment are all family oriented. Servants, maids and house helps are also included in this assignment. (See Galatians 6:5-7).
All these commands are to be thoroughly and strictly obeyed. When we allow God to become the all in all in our marriages – manifesting Himself through our obedience – we shall surely experience the dominion He created us to have. May your eyes of understanding be opened to comprehend these revealed secrets, in Jesus name.
God was the one who created marriage and He knows the best way both husband and wife should handle themselves. Many married couples could have done better in their marriage if they understood this truth. They wouldn’t have dared to take decisions outside of God’s Word, jeopardize God’s interest in their marriage, and then end in separation or divorce! If all parents and In-laws and friends know this truth, they will handle marriage issues of their children and friends better.
It is very sad to note that many people never realize that entering marriage means taking up God’s divine assignment.
The assignment must be done with the basic instructions, and guidelines meant to make it please the One who has created the marriage institution in the first place. So therefore, doing/living any how we like in our marriages and treating our spouses contrary to how God wants us to, is to fall short of God’s divine assignment. This will in turn attract God’s punishment against us. The marriage God has created or ordained to be Successful, holds two mutual lovers, who are meant to be forgivers, sharers and open-hearted to each other (Sce Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 and Genesis 2:25).
Wisdom for the Assignment
Married couples are never without any challenges at all. If they run away from challenges, they won’t experience growth and be skillful in handling issues. Such couples tend to exhibit childish characteristics. Marriage is a divine assignment from God to aid the fulfilment of a greater purpose called DOMINION. When your teacher gives you an assignment, he wouldn’t give you what cannot be solved at all. Sometimes, if the assignment seems unsolvable at first, you do not put it aside or deliberately run away or abscond from the class. If you do, you will definitely be compromising your future success. But as a teachable student who wants to be successful, you will have a way of getting around the assignment.
Have a Teachable Spirit
A teachable (humble) student will ask some of his colleagues how they got their assignments done. He may also make use of the library if he wishes to do so. He may depend on the teacher’s notes and Successful, holds two mutual lovers, who are meant to be forgivers, sharers and open-hearted to each other (See Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 and Genesis 2:25).
Wisdom for the Assignment
Married couples are never without any challenges at all. If they run away from challenges, they won’t experience growth and be skillful in handling issues. Such couples tend to exhibit childish characteristics. Marriage is a divine assignment from God to aid the fulfilment of a greater purpose called DOMINION. When your teacher gives you an assignment, he wouldn’t give you what cannot be solved at all. Sometimes, if the assignment seems unsolvable at first, you do not put it aside or deliberately run away or abscond from the class. If you do, you will definitely be compromising your future success. But as a teachable student who wants to be successful, you will have a way of getting around the assignment.
Have a Teachable Spirit
A teachable (humble) student will ask some of his colleagues how they got their assignments done. He may also make use of the library if he wishes to do so. He may depend on the teacher’s notes and other people’s understanding to help him gain some knowledgeable techniques to tackle the assignment. This too, in a way, should he applicable to partners in marriage when challenges surface in their marriage. But, suffice to say, many people enter into marriage without preparing themselves enough to handle marriage issues. They expect that being married automatically makes them real men or virtuous women without any challenge. This is nothing but a myth or travesty. In short, some marriage partners, at the appearance of any slight problem between them, take a U-TURN to separate or divorce. For us to be successful in the assignment given to us in our marriages, we must be ready to be like Jesus; that is learn from Him who is meek and lowly in His heart (See Mt. 11:29).
Why the Blame Game?
Many Christians are used to blaming the devil or their partners for every muddy or stinking water they dip their feet into. Remember! Adam wasn’t only given a great responsibility to tend and keep the garden, he was divinely equipped as the god of the whole earth to be in charge of it. His charge did not exclude loving his wife, Eve. But unfortunately, the devil gained entrance through his wife and both of them fell. God knew that Eve listened to the devil, but decided to call Adam first, when He couldn’t see/feel him for their usual sweet fellowship. Adam in his attempt to answering God’s questions revealed that a very serious problem had begun! “Where are you … Who told you that you were naked …” (Genesis 3:9-11). Adam could not but respond through his human fallen state, blaming God majorly over what came up from his wife. “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate” —Genesis 3:12. God asked Adam a simple question which required a simple answer. God didn’t accept his answer for an excuse. Adam could have taken the responsibility of his action first of all. Marriage partners should always endeavor to take responsibility for their actions.
What Do I Do if My Spouse Happens to Fail?
When one or two marriage problems begin to surface through one partner, many marriage partners don’t even remember to first go back to God who gave them the assignment to ask, ‘FATHER, WHAT DO I DO?‘ Instead, they follow the directions of their hurting emotions and uncontrollably react against their partners outside the will of God. Truly, God has so designed Marriage in such a way that husband and wife can definitely work together from their own ends of the assignment; but sometimes, due to some unforeseen circumstances coupled with lack of knowledge, one partner may become very uncooperative, thereby making it very tough or impossible for the other partner to hang on. This is where agape (divine love) and the grace of God are seriously needed.
Don’t take the laws into your hands if your spouse happens to hurt you badly. Know assuredly, that you can never handle your recalcitrant spouse better than God. When you take the laws into your hands, you will come under the same platform of disobedience (like your offending spouse). And that too will be punishable by God! God is no respecter of persons.
