Evangelicals Now
<< January 2007 >>

The diamond marriage

Having ultimate purpose in your marriage

The two of us

THE DIAMOND MARRIAGE
Having ultimate purpose in your marriage
By Simon Vibert
Christian Focus. 176 pages. £6.99
ISBN 1 84550 076 8

Simon Vibert’s book sets out to show husbands and wives the ultimate, eternal purpose of their marriage — and the implications for living a life of married love day-by-day.

He explains how a Christian marriage is not merely a relationship between husband and wife. To see marriage in this way neglects the vital issue of how the couple relates both to God and to the world. The ‘diamond’ of the title reflects the way that husband, wife, the Lord and the witness of the marriage to the world are held together.

God
Husband Wife
The World

It is a thoroughly biblical and theologically-driven book — yet it is also readable (plenty of illustrations and humour), practical (lots of questions for husbands and wives to work through together), wise and helpful. The ‘usual’ issues of communication, sex, marital friction, etc., are well covered and it is good to see his thoughtful discussion on submission (which is left out of some books on marriage). He also takes an interesting look at the problem of joylessness in Christian marriages and how joy can be revived.

With endless reports on divorce rates, it is heartening to read a book which seeks to raise our sights — to appreciate the great purposes of God in our marriages, to understand how God first created marriage and to see how he will bring it to completion in heaven. A book to be bought, read and lent.

(The outline of Simon Vibert’s marriage course, on which the book is based, is available as a free download — details in the book!)

Mary Davis,
minister’s wife and mum of three, living in Tooting, London