Choice of partner in marriage is a fundamental issue to be well-thought-out with great seriousness before stepping into the mystery institution called marriage.
Definition of Choice
It is a process of selecting or deciding on a particular thing, condition or approach from a range of varieties. It means you have to select from two or more things placed before you. It could be anything you can think of; for instance a choice of job, the brand/modern of car to buy, where to live and kind of dress to put on for an outing, the type of friends to keep etc. But for the purpose of this article we will limit ourselves to the choice of marriage partner.
We can therefore say that, a choice of marriage partner is the choice one make regarding an individual one intend to live the rest of his or her life with. You would have to cope with his/her strengths and weaknesses till death do you part. It is a life-time choice that must not be made arbitrarily. It should be approached with careful consideration, thorough planning and prevailing prayers. Above all, a definite of assurance of god's leading must be established in one's choice.
Facts about choice are enumerated below:-
- Choice is the basic foundation on which any marriage is built.
- Wrong choice in marriage could be likened to house built on a sandy foundation, while right choice is like a house built on solid rock.
- The art of choosing a life partner must not be done hastily or shabbily.
- Choice should be devoid of all sentiments, lust, pity or selfish motives.
Everybody is accountable for whatever choice they make as regards every area of life, and for this reason one need to be diligent when it comes to choice of marriage partner. You need to follow the Celestial plan for choosing a marriage partner based on the dependable word of God for you to have a successful marriage. You can save yourself a lot of regret, guilt, anxiety, heartache and grief if you critically consider your choice of marriage partner.
The choice of marriage partner you make today will make or mar you, paint the picture of the type of marriage you will have tomorrow and it will also determine where you arrive tomorrow; whether into marital bitterness or bliss. Do not leave your choice of marriage partner to your parent, relations, friends or anyone for that matter, because you will be the one to live together with your choice forever.
In making choice of marriage partner it would be worthwhile to think through what makes a good marriage. Here are some tips you should look for in others and develop in yourself when making a choice:
I. Willingness to serve and humility.
II. Right Priorities
III. Commitment.
IV. Loving attitude
V. Self-control
VI. Honesty
VII. Beauty below the skin.
V. Responsibility
You need to look at some areas of your life that need adjustment and require attention. Ask yourself if you would arrest attention of someone looking for a marriage partner.
It takes more than love to choose the right partner marriage. Choose your spouse carefully. In case you are in doubts of who to choose as you marriage partner and if your doubts are reasonable and worth paying attention to or if you are having cold feet without having any rational reasons, this the best time to resort to advise from an experience and trustworthy counsellor.
A successful marriage does not begin with the wedding ceremony; rather its foundation is laid earlier with careful preparation of one's character and correct matching of a man and a woman that God has ordained together.