Two Judges of Kerala High Court said for youngsters the acronym for Wife is: Worry Invited For Ever. They condemned the modern attitude towards the institution of marriage when they were listening to arguments for a case of divorce. (NDTV news 1 September 2022) Marriage is not defined by human laws or culture or modern trends, but by God as he created, defined and ordered marriage.
Evil or Good: “He who finds a wife, finds a good thing and obtains favor of the Lord.” (Proverbs 18:22) Marriage is not slavery or evil or irrelevant or bondage. The Bible teaches that one who marries has obtained good things and God’s favor is upon them. God’s favor is on all couples who are legally married.
Live-in or Love-in? Judges saw live-in relationships are not right. Sex is holy only when it is between legally married husband and wife. All other sexual relationships are immoral, illegal, violation of Gods’ commandments and sin against God. (Exodus 20:14) Husbands are commanded to love their wives, as Lord Jesus Christ loved the church with self-sacrificing love. (Ephesians 5:25)
Worry or Investment? The judges said that wife acronym is not about worry but investment. They said WIFE stands for: Wise Investment For Ever. The attitude in the society regarding women is demeaning them.
Privileges not obligations: Young people like to have privileges without obligation. Marriage and family are privileges that have obligations and duties also.
Covenant and Contract: Young people who indulge in live-in relationships or consider marriage as a contract. The bible teaches marriage is not a contract that could be annulled at will, but as a covenant. Adam said, Eve is flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone. Hence, a man would leave his wife and will cleave or join his wife, as they are one flesh. (Genesis 2:23, 24) Marriage is a mystical union of a man and woman.
Honourable not casual: Bible exhorts all to hold marriage as Honorable and holy, not as casual relationship. (Hebrews 13:5)
Do I esteem marriage as a God created institution?