Is it only a toothpaste tube

Is it only a toothpaste tube

“When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went into the region of Judea to the other side of the Jordan.  
Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there. 
Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?” 
“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’  and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’ ?  
So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.” 
“Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?” 
Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning.  
I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery.” 
The disciples said to him, “If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.” 
Jesus replied, “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given.  
For some are eunuchs because they were born that way; others were made that way by men; and others have renounced marriage because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.” 
                      Matthew 19:1-12.
I know a couple who got divorced sighting irreconcilable differences. Later I was talking to the wife who told me very seriously, “I couldn’t stand the way that man left the toothpaste tube.”
They had known each other only six months prior to getting married and their marriage had lasted just under two years. They had found out that they were not at all compatible.  That their little quirks drove each other around the bend.
I think the problem was they entered into marriage too lightly which ultimately made divorce inevitable.
Now let me make things perfectly clear here. There are times when divorce is necessary.
Over the years I’ve heard pastors and evangelist make extreme statements everything from only a man can divorce his wife. The wife cannot divorce her husband, to Adultery is the only reason for divorce. They even quote the above passage Matthew 19:1-12.
THOSE WHO PREACH SUCH DOCTRINE ARE IN MY OPINION  WRONG.
We are in the twenty-first century and all credible scholars accept that first, divorce is a two way street. A woman can divorce her husband for just cause in the same way a man can divorce his wife, infidelity (adultery) and especially abuse are the two reasons that stand out in my mind.
All to many marriages these days are entered into far too lightly. Marriage should be a love relationship.
By love I don’t mean sexual. It has been my experience that marriages based on sexual attraction and fascination is doomed to fail.
When the fascination ends and you enter into a valley in your relationship or other trials come it will fall apart.
The Apostle Paul gives what I think is the ideal definition of Love when he writes,
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 
Love never fails....” 
         1 Corinthians 13:4-8a.
Paul writing to the Ephesians explains what I believe should happen in a marriage when he  writes,
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” 
Ephesians 5:25 
A husband should love, defend, and protect his wife to the point of giving up his own life.
Paul also makes it clear what it should be like in a marriage arrangement when he writes to the Corinthians,
"But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.  
The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.  The wife’s body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband’s body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife.  
Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control." 
                              1 Corinthians 7:2-5.
No marriage is perfect. There will be big ups and downs from time to time. Times when you disagree and argue.
In the thirty-five years I’ve been married I know this is true but when I was dating my wife we read the above scriptures  believed them and evaluated our relationship with respect to them.
There was also one other scripture we read that makes perfect sense if you truly love your spouse it’s Paul writing to the Ephesians. He writes,
“In your anger do not sin” : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,” 
                                                                                                        Ephesians 4:26.
My wife and I have practised this principle since before we were married and it works.
I know others who have read and practice the above principles and their marriages too are solid.
Still relationships from time to time do go wrong. But it is up to the husband and the wife as far as possible to work on their relationship.
To carefully examine themselves and their relationship with their spouse. Then ask the question is divorce really necessary.
Or is it only a toothpaste tube.
Think about it.