Marriage And Guns

The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the LORD. [Proverbs 18.22] 

This verse could be a gamechanger for our understanding of marriage. It presents a challenge to both husband and wife alike.

Proverbs 18.22 does not say a good wife is a treasure. It simply says a wife is a treasure. What's more, it says having a wife is a favor from God; again, not a good wife.

What does this mean?

As I understand it, a treasure is a treasure. Husband and wife alike should understand that the marriage relationship contains a treasure. For a man to find a wife is to find treasure. For a woman to be found as a wife is a treasure. The institution of marriage (consummated in sex) is the treasure. God likes it.

God so ordained the marriage relationship (sex) that regardless whether it is ignorantly and haphazardly entered or, entered with the greatest of ceremony and respect, the miraculous power of conception still works. In other words, a man and woman who have sex can produce a child regardless of the ceremony or circumstance surrounding their sexual union. 

Should we not then consider why God allows conception in what are sometimes distressingly disturbing and forbidden encounters between a man and a woman? It is because God designed sexual intercourse to reveal His glorious power to produce life.

To have sex with a person is to marry them in God's design. Neither participant in sexual intercourse has any control over the power of God that ignites life when sperm and egg come into contact. If the egg is available and the sperm is introduced, the miracle of life will result. This miracle of life occurs whether it is in the loving bed of a consensual ceremonial marriage or in a back alleyway resultant to horrific forced intercourse.

In fact, sex is not different than a loaded gun in that both have a preferred use for which they were designed but can also produce undesired results if and when improperly utilized. If a bullet reaches its target, the design of the gun has gloriously fulfilled its design. If a sperm contacts an egg, the design of sex (marriage) has gloriously fulfilled its design. Neither circumstance however is dependent upon the moral or immoral motivation behind its occurrence. Both circumstances however require human self-control to accomplish their preferred use.

The treasure of marriage (sex) is its design to conceive life. The treasure of a firearm is its design to hit the target. The treasure, by design, is good. How the treasure is used is subject to human decision.

The design of marriage (sex) is such that "conception" is unrelated to the morality or ethics of its participants. The design of a firearm is such that "hitting the target" is unrelated to the morality or ethics of its shooter.

Marriage and guns are equally a great privilege. However, their comparison only goes so far as guns are entirely (and only) the product of human ingenuity while marriage (and sex) are entirely the product of God's design. Should this not make our understanding of marriage and sex even more worthy of our respect and self-control?

Father, there is so much more that could and should be understood regarding this subject. But, suffice it today that we recognize that even the worse of marriage situations still contains the potential for glorious treasure! So be it.