THE MEANING OF MARRIAGE - God in His love for us has given us our spouse as a gift that was not meant to trump Him in favor. Putting our spouse first instead of God produces idolatry, the serving of the creature rather than Creator, which in turn is no help to our spouse or us at all if we are to be transformed into the image and likeness of Christ. Loving God more than our spouse is what will make our marriage last and will achieve the goal of our marriages; to help each other be more like Christ.