100% Commitment

I have had a couple thoughts about 100% commitment. Sometimes we hear marriage is 50 / 50. While I would agree that there may be some compromise needed at times, I don't think the 50/50 thought is correct. 100% committed is what is needed. Each side needs that 100% committed attitude.  In Genesis 2:24 "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." As I think about this, it sounds very committed, 100% committed. I heard a sermon a few days ago talking about being committed to marriage or are we committed to a person. The more I think about this, the more I think there is a big difference between the two. In the verse above, the word cleave has the following meaning:  to cling, stick, stay close, cleave, keep close, stick to, stick with, follow closely, join to, overtake, catch.  This has a 100% sound to it. Being committed to marriage sounds more like the Pharisee legalistic approach. They tried to follow the letter of the law but would often not understand the spirit of the law. Marriage is a union between one man and one woman for life. We live in an age where groups in our country are trying to define marriage differently. We live in an age where most TV shows celebrate anything other than commitment to one man one woman concept. Divorce is easy. I know I have divorced 4 times.  I see countless shows where adultery is common place. We see over and over again where a man and a woman are having a baby and when asked when are they getting married? Many say maybe a year or two down the road.  Our society does not cherish that 100% commitment.  I believe God intended it to be a 100% commitment. A commitment to a person, not the institution. A live breathing person who has feelings and can be hurt. A harsh word or careless actions can damage the relationship. Stick, stay close are word describing cleave. Stay close, live your lives together. Sure we don't like the same things. I know of very few woman who like hunting. I know very few men who like shopping. Cleaving says, join to. In Matthew 19:6 "Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." I am not advocating
a legalistic commitment to marriage, but a commitment to a person that is committed to you as well. No more twain but one flesh sounds 100% committed to the spirit of the law. I do not think we should stay in an abusive situation, but if someone is committed to us, we need to stay committed ourselves. We need to look to stay close, cling, become one to the person, not the institution of marriage. For men I always think of Ephesians 5:25, Husbands love your wives as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it. another version says for her. In Job 31, Job says he made a covenant  with his eyes to not look upon a young maiden. that is in the spirit of being 100% committed. I have heard the statement: men will be men, many times, this is not a statement that supports 100% commitment. It is almost like we expect men to be unfaithful. I have heard this from Christian women. !00 % committed to a person is God's plan. How old is God's word? That is how old the one man, one woman concept started. One man one man or one woman one woman is not from the beginning and never was part of God's plan. Neither is adultery. Both are described as sinful in God's word and are contrary to God's perfect plan. When we fall short of God's perfect plan there is forgiveness when we repent and walk a different direction. 100% commitment is God's design. God bless, LVZ.