Covenant or Contract - Crosswalk Couples Devotional - June 5

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Covenant or Contract
By Michelle Lazurek

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them and write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” Jeremiah 31:31-33

Today, any business enters into a contractual agreement with its employees. For example, writers enter into agreements with publishers. These contracts outline precisely what is expected of each party. This is done in case a legal dispute emerges. Both parties sign the contract as a symbol of their understanding of the terms and conditions regarding their relationship. Any respectful business does this with its employees to avoid legal recourse and to make their expectations clear in writing. 

When two people enter into marriage, they are not just signing a contract but making a covenant. This covenant is a lifelong commitment, a promise to remain together 'till death do they part.' Unlike a contract, which is a legal agreement, a covenant is a sacred bond. It is a pledge to love, honor, and cherish each other, regardless of the circumstances. Even when one party fails, the other is there to forgive, overlook an offense, and continue their love for each other. 

A covenant is “a written agreement or promises usually under seal between two or more parties, especially for the performance of some action.”1 Synonyms for covenant are “pledge” and “contract.” God enters various covenants with his people throughout the Old Testament. In the above verse, God chooses to enter a new covenant with Israel after they broke their first covenant. This is how God views his relationship with Israel. 

In the same way, a husband should view his relationship with his wife this way. Two people promise to love and be faithful to each other until God separates them through death. God never enters into a contract with us.

The difference between a covenant and a contract is the nature of the relationship. A covenant is a relationship where both parties verbally agree to the expectations laid out in Scripture. The husband is to love his wife as Christ loves the church, and the wife is to respect her husband. 

A contract reduces a relationship to a transactional one, in which one person exchanges goods or services for something the other party already has. But in a covenant, both parties agree to love each other without strings attached. Both agree to give 100% of themselves to their marriage. They pledge to love each other fully, even when the other party fails them. The contract outlines a business agreement in which one party exchanges something of value and gives it to the other, and the other party reciprocates. 

If your marriage is not where you'd like it to be, there's still hope. In a contract, when one party violates the terms, the relationship is over. But a covenant is different. As the Lord demonstrates in the above verse, covenants can be renewed. Even if one party fails to keep their commitment, both spouses can agree to re-enter into a loving covenant, affirming their vows to each other. This renewal is a testament to the enduring nature of a covenant, offering hope and a fresh start. 

It's still possible to enter a new covenant with your spouse. Agree to forgive each other for past offenses and decide to move on in loving faithfulness all the days of your life. Agree to love, honor, and cherish each other until death separates you. Verbally affirm and promise to love each other, putting each other above all others. 

Father, thank you that you are a God who chooses to enter into a new covenant with us. Even when we are unfaithful to you or each other, you promise never to leave us. Your unconditional love covers all our sins. Please help us to allow our vows to cover the sins of our spouses. Help us renew our covenant with each other in love and faithfulness. Amen. 

Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Andrey Popov

Michelle S. Lazurek is a multi-genre award-winning author, speaker, pastor's wife, and mother. She is a literary agent for Wordwise Media Services and host of The Spritual Reset Podcast. Her new children’s book Hall of Faith encourages kids to understand God can be trusted. When not working, she enjoys sipping a Starbucks latte, collecting 80s memorabilia, and spending time with her family and her crazy dog. For more info, please visit her website www.michellelazurek.com.

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