Choosing a Marriage Partner

Let’s talk about how to choose a marriage partner. Some of you have already chosen a partner, others may be divorced or single, or uninterested in marriage. But let’s suppose that you have to advise a friend on how to choose a husband or wife. Give examples of your own experience or the experiences of others, values from your religion or any other sources that have influenced your thinking on marriage.

What do you think is most important in finding a marriage partner? How would you rank these kinds of things? Explain your choices.

intelligence?

physical appearance?

love for you? (romantic love? friendship love? forgiving love?)

abilities in or willingness in: taking care of house and home - cleaning, cooking, barbecuing, mowing the lawn, painting, fixing appliances, plumbing, sewing etc.?

common interests or hobbies?

educational background?

ability to make money?

personality?

temper? (patient, anger easily, calm)

faith in religion? (believe, strongly believe, attend church, synagogue or temple, leader in that faith)

his/her family? (similar to yours, values, personalities, occupations etc.)

How does a couple make a marriage that will last for their whole lives? How does a couple survive when hard times come - losing a job, death of a child, disability of spouse, financial hardship, illness of spouse?

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The following are two different ideas on male and female. Can both statements be true? Explain.

‘ But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. “For this cause, a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and they shall become one flesh”; consequently they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.”
Mark 10: 6-9.

“There is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither slave nor freeman; there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28