God has given married couples a wonderful gift to each other: the gift of partnership in working for His kingdom.

Sadly, however, there are some husbands or wives who do not understand and thus have not experienced the power of having their spouse as a co-worker in serving the Lord.

While it is good to work with those who have the same gifts and areas of skill in ministry or in the kingdom of God, married couples should understand that their spouses are the first "partners" they have in serving the Lord. Here's why: it's God's design.

God designed you to work together

Genesis 2:18-22 tells us, "Then the Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him." So the Lord God formed from the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would call them, and the man chose a name for each one. He gave names to all the livestock, all the birds of the sky, and all the wild animals. But still there was no helper just right for him. So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep. While the man slept, the Lord God took out one of the man's ribs and closed up the opening. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib, and he brought her to the man."

Think about it. Your spouse isn't just somebody you'll go home to at night and have dinner with, a short conversation, some time watching that TV show or movie, then go to sleep with. God has designed that spouse for you to be your partner in serving Him!

Before Adam had his wife Eve, God gave him some tasks and a stern warning. It was God who saw that it would be good for Adam to have a partner – his wife. God tasked them to "fill the earth and subdue it," (see Genesis 1:27-29) signifying that it's not the man's or woman's job alone. Rather, the couple will work at it together, before even deciding to work with another. Do you consider your spouse as your primary partner in working for the kingdom of God, serving the Lord?

How we should respond to this

Some of you might be thinking, "Preposterous! We are very different from each other and can't do that!"

You shouldn't.

God designed man and woman to be totally different, and meant it that way. It's not an accident. When you have God's perspective on this matter, you'll find that your spouse complements you in one way or another, and your partnership will enable you to reach great lengths, such as the privilege to get a deeper knowledge of the love of God; a capacity to serve with all your heart, knowing that aside from God, your spouse backs you up all the time; the added bonus of accountability and safety, when you are honest to your spouse.

Let's have Adam's response to this thought of having our spouses as our primary kingdom work-partner:

"At last!" the man exclaimed. "This one is bone from my bone, and flesh from my flesh! She will be called 'woman,' because she was taken from 'man.'"" (Genesis 2:23)

Be excited and happy to serve the Lord with your spouse!