God's Plan for Mankind

God’s Plan for Mankind

          Today there are lots of different ideas about what constitutes marriage. While most people are sincere in what they believe, it’s always good to go straight to the source whenever there’s a question about what’s the correct method for any issue or topic. If you wouldn’t attempt to repair your computer or automobile without getting advice or help from an expert, it’s reasonable to get advice and help about marriage and family from the greatest expert of all – God. Here’s what God has to say in the Bible about both.

          Genesis 2:18-24
[18] And the Lord God said: It is not good for man to be alone: let us make him a help like unto himself. [19] And the Lord God having formed out of the ground all the beasts of the earth, and all the fowls of the air, brought them to Adam to see what he would call them: for whatsoever Adam called any living creature the same is its name. [20] And Adam called all the beasts by their names, and all the fowls of the air, and all the cattle of the field: but for Adam there was not found a helper like himself.
[21] Then the Lord God cast a deep sleep upon Adam: and when he was fast asleep, he took one of his ribs, and filled up flesh for it. [22] And the Lord God built the rib which he took from Adam into a woman: and brought her to Adam. [23] And Adam said: This now is bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman, because she was taken out of man. [24] Wherefore a man shall leave father and mother and shall cleave to his wife: and they shall be two in one flesh.

          Matthew 19: 4-6
[4] Who answering, said to them: Have ye not read, that he who made man from the beginning, Made them male and female? And he said: [5] For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and they two shall be in one flesh.
[6] Therefore now they are not two, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined, let no man put asunder.

          These passages and the teachings of the Catholic Church make it clear that God intended for one man and one woman to be joined with each other in marriage for life. Just as our success and happiness in operating a computer or automobile depends upon how well we listen to the advice from an expert and act upon it, our success and happiness in marriage depends upon how well we listen to God’s advice and act upon it.