Laws That Hold a Marriage Together (Part Two)

“So they are no longer two, but one flesh.” Matthew 19:6 (NIV)

Marriage is not sustained by feelings alone. It is sustained by God’s laws, and one of the most challenging is the law of possession. Scripture says the two shall become one flesh. That word one is not poetic language. It is covenant language. God is declaring that marriage creates shared ownership, shared responsibility, and shared life.

The law of possession means you no longer live as an independent operator. Your body, your resources, your time, and your future are no longer yours alone. They are entrusted to the partnership God created. Marriage was never meant to be about control. It was meant to be about unity. You are not bosses competing for power. You are partners building something together.

This law is damaged when dominance takes over. When one spouse seizes control and refuses to consult, oneness begins to erode. Decisions made without discussion fracture trust. God never designed marriage for one voice to rule and the other to submit in silence. He designed shared leadership, mutual honor, and collaborative decision making.

Selfish independence also breaks this law. When you cling to phrases like my money, my career, or my life, you are living as though marriage never happened. Those words belong to singleness, not covenant. Marriage calls you to surrender the right to act alone. What you possess, your spouse possesses. What you decide, you decide together. This includes parenting, finances, schedules, and even personal dreams. In blended families, this law becomes even more critical. Unity between spouses provides stability for children. Without it, division grows and confusion follows. Trust must be strong enough to allow oneness to form.

Scripture goes even deeper by reminding you that even your body is no longer yours alone. Marriage requires generosity, not withholding. It requires trust, not suspicion. Oneness thrives where humility lives. You establish the law of possession through communication. You ask for input. You invite perspective. You slow down long enough to say, what do you think? God often balances your weaknesses with your spouse’s strengths. When you listen, you grow wiser. When you share control, you grow stronger.

Marriage is hard on selfishness because it was never designed to serve self. The more you give of yourself, the more life God pours back in. When you choose unity over independence, you reflect the heart of covenant.

Prayer: Lord, teach me to live as one with my spouse. Remove pride, dominance, and independence that divide us. Help me choose partnership over control and humility over self-interest. Show me how to listen, consult, and share fully. I surrender my rights and ask You to build true oneness in our marriage. Strengthen us as we honor Your design. Amen.

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