When Two Become One

By Pastor Dr. Willie L. McClary

This book contains biblical truths that will help enhance the relationship between a husband and wife. Pastor McClary will show you how to spend each moment of that day with your spouse and make it a delightful one. Pastor McClary shares the teaching and experiences that have helped him to transform his marriage from ordinary to extraordinary. This book will do the same for you.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Oct 13, 2017
• ISBN: 9781973606437

Pastor Dr. Willie L. McClary

Dr. Willie L. McClary has obtain a Masters degree from Believers Bible Institute in Coward S.C.. He also has obtained an Honorary Doctrine Degree from Mid Carolina School and Cemonary in Columbia S.C.. Dr. McClary gives accurate Biblical concept of marriage in todays society. He has been married to Ponzella McClary for 22 years with two children. He has the experience to impart wisdom about how you can maintain a heathy and prosperous marriage.

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Copyright © 2017 Pastor Dr. Willie L. McClary.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Photographer, Walter Pearce

Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations marked MSG are taken from THE MESSAGE. Copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV). Copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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ISBN: 978-1-9736-0642-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-0641-3 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-0643-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017915363

WestBow Press rev. date: 10/13/2017

CONTENTS

Introduction

Chapter 1   Self-Control

Chapter 2   Marriage

Chapter 3   Patience

Chapter 4   The Power of Forgiveness

Chapter 5   Submitting

Chapter 6   Love

Chapter 7   Communication

Chapter 8   Differences in Compatibilities and Marriage Success

Chapter 9   Why Is Sex Important in Marriages?

Chapter 10   Overcoming Bitterness in a Marriage

Chapter 11   Finances in Marriage

Chapter 12   Marriage Success

Sources

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Introduction

What does the Bible explicitly constitute as a marriage between a man and a woman? God created human beings that reflect his nature. He created male and female and blessed them to prosper, reproduce, and fill the earth (Gen. 1:27–28). God oversees the first wedding ceremony in the garden of Eden (Gen. 2:22). The modern practice of a father giving away his daughter at a wedding reflects God’s actions in Eden.

In John 2, Jesus attended a wedding ceremony. Jesus would not have attended such an event if he did not approve of what was occurring. Nearly every culture in history has observed some kind of wedding ceremony that recognizes a man’s and a woman’s marriage. God declared that it is not good for Adam (the first man) to live alone. All the animals are in the garden of Eden, but none are a suitable partner for Adam. Therefore God makes a woman. The woman is called his wife (Gen 2:25).

The author of Genesis then records the standard by which all future marriages are defined. A man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh (Gen 2:24). It is impossible for a family to form or human reproduction to take place without the physical joining of the union God created for husband and wife. God ordained that sex takes place between married couples. It follows God’s design for a family, when a man and woman come together in holy matrimony. God’s design for marriage is that marriage is intended to last for a lifetime. Genesis 2:24 says the two become one flesh. Eve was taken from Adam’s side, and so she was literally one flesh with Adam. Every marriage, thereafter, is intended to reflect the unity shared by Adam and Eve as well as Christ and the church (Eph. 5:25).

It should come as no surprise when the world desires to change what God has instituted from the beginning. Though the world is attempting to provide their own definition for what they call marriage, the Bible stands. Marriage is far more profound than our contemporary culture leads us to believe. It is a long commitment that restrains self-centeredness, self-indulgence, and self-gratification. It is the one relationship that effectively prepares and promotes love for another. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren (1 John 3:16 KJV). John also said in 1 John 4:7–11 (KJV), Beloved let us love one another; for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Beloved, if God so loved, us we ought also to love one another.

When you marry, your commitment is labeled by a contract between the two consenting persons that our self-centered passions cease. Not only does self-centeredness harm that relationship, it also spreads throughout society like ripples in a pond. Across America, the institution of marriage is being assailed and reduced to nothing more than a sentimental ceremony between consenting adults, radically redefined, or abandoned altogether. Our challenge then is to come to a reasonable defense of marriage that not only persuades the culture to resist redefining marriage but also encourages the culture to recommit to the strengthening of marriage as an esteemed institution.

Marriage is not just a civil union between two people. Rather it is an emotional, physical, and spiritual union between one man and one woman. It’s emotional in the sense that these two people, male and female, each with different attributes, join together in life, each assisting the other, nurturing and caring for one another, and affirming and guiding one another. In essence, they complete the other, in the sense that marriage is procreative, two separate biological and physical beings blending together to create what neither can create on his or her own, children. Lastly, it is spiritual in the sense that we are made for this partnership that places the interest in the other above self. It is a relationship that ultimately mirrors God’s sacrificial love toward each of us and his bride, the church (Eph. 5:24).

When the Pharisees came into Jesus, tempting him by saying, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? Jesus answered and said unto them, Have you not read that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said for this cause shall man leave father and mother and shall cleave to his wife: and they two shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together let no man put asunder. They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement and to put her away. He said unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. And I say unto you, whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication or (an adulterous lifestyle) and marries another, commits adultery: and whoso marries her when she is put away doth commit adultery. (Matt. 19:3–9 KJV)

In marriages, there will be challenges, difference of opinions, and trials, but those are not valid reasons for divorce. No, despite all these, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ who loved us (Rom. 8:37).

Happy marriages are sometimes far and few these days. We tend to argue with our spouse over things that are not worth arguing about. What causes most arguments? Money. In today’s society, so many divorces are because of financial problems, but remember when we took our wedding vows, which say, "To have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or