God intended marriage to be the union of a man and a woman with a clear and distinct purpose. Thus, the husband and the wife need to clearly agree with each other that they will pursue the same goals, even though they might have different roles in pursuing them.
Purpose of marriage
The Bible tells us that God gave man the task of stewarding all that He has made. He brought the man and the woman together in marriage so that they could help one another fulfill that task:
"Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.' So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.'" (Genesis 1:26-28)
This is apparently an enormous task, and no one person on earth can do it, for God had meant that the man and woman He created would work at it together.
Walking together
Walking together, however, requires that both parties agree on the direction and goals that they will pursue. The Bible tells us, "Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?" (Amos 3:3)
This simple principle of agreement towards the same goals and purposes is very important. Overlooking or ignoring this principle brings a lot of problems to all partnerships.
How often are today's families getting torn apart because both the husband and the wife did not pursue God's command to "submit to one another out or reverence for Christ" (see Ephesians 5:21)? How often are today's kids engaged in unruly or unbecoming character because their parents aren't committed to train them up in the way that they should go (see Proverbs 22:6)? Think about it.
Agree to pursue God's purposes
My friends, agreeing with your spouse on some common goals doesn't mean giving up what you plan to do. It simply means that both of you would need to consider what God wants both of you to pursue – and then you pursue it with all your heart.
And when both of you choose to pursue God's desires for both of you, you'll find that marriage is a lot easier and more blessed than not.
