joshua
Build your marriages around God, Bishop Audu charges couples
By Esther Akaa, Lafia
The Arch Bishop of Jos Archdiocese, His Grace, Bishop Matthew Audu has urged couples to place God at the centre of every marriage for it to flourish.
Bishop Audu gave the charge recently during the solemnisation of Holy Matrimony between Jesse Kotso, son of Dr Justina Kotso, the immediate past Rector of Isa Mustapha Agwai 1 Polytechnic ( IMAP) Lafia, and his wife, Beauty John at the Church of Immaculate Conception in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
He said God instituted marriage during creation when he made Adam and Eve as his helper, hence couples must endeavour to invite God to take full charge of their marriages to ensure success.
The Bishop expressed sadness that many marriages were breaking up due lack of commitment on both sides, calling on couples to make deliberate efforts to make their union work and last forever.
“Marriage is a journey set out to the unknown and you need God’s help and your commitment to succeed. It is sad that marriages are breaking up these days after taking vows in the presence of God.
“This means that their homes were not built on solid rock foundation and for your marriage work, you must allow God to sustain it. This is because it is God’s design for relationships to end in marriage, therefore, if God is the initiator and sustainer of marriages, couples must learn to commit to Him to take charge,” he said.
Bishop Audu called on couples to always pray together citing an example in the Bible about Tobias and Sarah who prayed to God on their wedding night and God blessed their union.
He further encouraged the newly wedded couple to love each other just as Jesus Christ loved the church and died on the cross for the salvation of mankind.
“It is unfortunate that many couples who promised love to their partners have abandoned them. Both parties must be ready to love and make sacrifices as well as respect each other.
” You must also learn to understand each other because no human being is the same. The woman is created with emotions and must be treated as such.
” You must not also all allow gossip to destroy your home and don’t allow the riches to divide you.
“Accept children as God’s gifts to humanity and attend to their needs. To prevent them from becoming a nuisance to society, you must give your kids a good education so they can integrate into society.”he added.
He, therefore prayed God to sanctify the union of Jesse and Beauty so that it may reflect the union of Jesus Christian with His Church.
On his part, the Bishop of Lafia, Most Rev David Ajang while joining the couple together called on God to pour out the spirit of love upon Jesse and Beauty and make their hearts and souls one mould as they live together as husband and wife.
He also prayed God to make them fruitful and bring forth responsible and God fearing children.
Speaking separately in an interview, the bride and groom, both expressed gratitude to God for bringing them to their wedding day.
They equally appreciated their families , dignitaries, friends and well wishers for their contributions towards the success of the wedding and prayed God to bless them abundantly.
