For most of us marriage is the longest… most intense… most intimate relationship we will ever experience. We might spend many hours at work… but our relationships there are narrow and task focused nowhere near the breadth experienced in marriage. Friendships can have similarities possibly approaching the breadth we find in marriage… yet not with the same investment of time… both day by day, or over the span of your life. You get the picture. Considering the time, the intensity, the intimacy… surely your marriage will have a profound, if not defining, effect on your spiritual life. The hours, days, years and decades of your marriage… or more to the point your actions and attitudes within your marriage… will help shape and mold the spiritual creation God is working in you.  For better… or for worse. If you cannot see the audio controls, listen/download the audio file hereMarriage is a blessing God has given you that can bring you much joy, contentment and satisfaction… or possibly daily mental, emotional and physical struggle. Either way through marriage you will learn about yourself… but also do something with what you learn… practice spiritual discipline… grow in grace and knowledge and build a Godly  mind. This outlook on marriage isn’t always our default setting. Even those who are spiritually minded there lingers a notion that marriage is a worldly consolation. Meant for those who cannot handle real spirituality. Supposedly, there is a higher state of spiritual discipline… a person totally devoted to God… with no attachments… no worldly cares… truly  seeking first the kingdom of God… renouncing marriage, family, passions and positions. This concept of holiness is familiar to western culture and non-western cultures alike… monks, nuns, gurus, holymen, and more… renunciation of marriage and family life allowing more time for prayer, fasting, study and other good works etc. Is this a better way? Is it a harder way? Or… Is it an easier way?Consider the challenges of marriageI’m speaking here of a biblical marriage involving two people (or perhaps only one) who take their covenant with God seriously, who are trying to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit, and want to build the fullness of Christ in themselves and their mate. Consider the trials and tribulations of raising children… the physical exhaustion of caring for them, the mental challenge of keeping your head when everything within you wants of scream, or yell, or lose your temper. What about the emotional slights must be overlooked… the tiny indignities, the unnoticed sacrifices… you could so easily ask “what for”… are these not spiritual challenges… are they easy? Matt 19:8-12 I read these words of Jesus to mean if you cannot handle the commitment God expects in the marriage covenant then don’t get married. If you can’t handle it don’t go there. Marriage isn’t for spiritual wimps.Paul’s comments on Celibacy·        I Cor 7:1refers the preceding scenario… avoid sexual immorality get married.·        1 Co 7:6  From my own knowledge (sungnoomeen) and not as a command, I am saying this:·        I Cor 7:10-11 toggles back and forth God’s command… my word (logos)·        1 Corinthians 7:25  (Simple English Version) About virgin girls. I don't have a command from the Lord , but I am giving you what I know (gnome). I'm dependable; the Lord has given me mercy. ·        See also verse 40Why does Paul offer his opinion in Corinth at this time? I Cor 7:26-28 a lot of what Paul says here is circumstantial… ·        marriages were mostly arranged often with little control or say so in who  you were married to… ·        times were troubled for God’s people… persecution etc. ·