This guest post is by Rachael Pace of https://www.marriage.com Be sure to check out the site as it has a lot of great resources for marriage.
God is the originator of marriage, therefore, it goes without saying that His word is going to be the ultimate source for marriage advice. There are a lot of obstacles standing in the way of a successful marriage today, especially in the electronic age that we live in. But, if we take the right steps and follow biblical principles we can be strengthened by God knowing that marriage is his loving gift designed to change us, strengthen us, and enrich our lives.
From learning the best way to show love and respect to dealing with in-laws and infidelity, the Bible has practical advice for every aspect of our marriages. Here is how to integrate biblical teaching in our everyday married lives for a lifelong union full of love.
Marriage – Bonded for Life
Mark 10:9 reads “Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” God designed the woman to be a complement to the man. A complement means something added to complete or “make perfect”. A husband and wife are to leave their parents and join each other to become one flesh. This strong wording stresses the importance of putting one another first and taking your marriage seriously.
You can integrate this biblical teaching in married life by viewing marriage in the proper light. Marriage is not something you do on a whim or because you’re infatuated with someone. When you marry someone you do so with a view of being with them for the rest of your life, through thick and thin.
Love Your Wife as Yourself
Ephesians 5:28, 29 says “Husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. A man who loves his wife loves himself, for no man ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cherishes it, just as the Christ does the congregation.” (NWT)
A husband who is self-serving, demanding, or disrespectful makes his marriage a difficult relationship to be in. Opposite of this poor behavior, God expects the husband to treat the wife tenderly. To treat her with love and dignity, the same way he would take care of himself. Ephesians 5 even suggests that as the protector of your wife, you should be willing to put her interests ahead of your own.
Respect Your Husband
Ephesians 5:33 says that a wife should have deep respect for her husband. A large role of respect in the marriage is to be in subjection to your husband. Many women find the role of females in the marriage to be archaic or degrading by Bible standards. However, when a husband follows his Bible counsel and treats his wife as his own body this means she will be treated with love, compassion, patience, and respect. This makes being in subjection to him an honor and a true show of respect, instead of feeling conquered or “less” than a man.
Infidelity in the Marriage Bed – Mental and Physical
Ephesians 5:3 says “Let sexual immorality (…) not even be mentioned among you.” The Bible’s author knew the effects that adultery could have in a marriage and condemned it. Adultery can be damaging to the emotional health of your partner, can lead to divorce, and have a negative impact on your children.
In today’s age, smartphones and internet access have made it even easier to be unfaithful to your marriage mate. Pornography websites, dating and hookup apps, and social media can all contribute to infidelity in a marriage.
Apply the Bible’s counsel on in your life and stay true to your marriage vows by being determined to avoid pornography, do not flirt with the opposite sex, and do not allow your eyes to linger on temptations.
The Golden Rule
Matt 7:12 is one of the most popular scriptures, and for good reason. This scripture brings out the “Golden Rule” as set out by Jesus. Namely, “All things, therefore, that you want men to do to you, you also must do to them.” (NWT)
This teaching suggests that you should treat others, including your marriage mate, the way you would want to be treated. This causes you to do a self-examination. How would you like to be treated? Likely, you respond to honesty, fairness, respect, and compassion. These are the same traits you should show to your marriage mate for a healthy, happy relationship.
Show Patience and Forgiveness
No one is perfect. As happy as you are in your marriage, both mates are going to do something that will annoy, hurt, or affect the other. The best thing you can do? Practice forgiveness and patience. Jacob sets a great example of patience for true love. Genesis 29:20 brings out how Jacob had to work for seven years before he could have his heart’s desire, Rachel. The result? The account says the years seems like only days to him because of his love for her.
Showing Each Other the Marriage Dues
When God brought man and woman together he knew the importance of the marriage. Sex is an important part of any relationship and helps couples bond and increase trust. God also knew that a lack of regular sexual intercourse may incite marriage mates to look outside of the marriage for intimacy. 1 Corinthians 7:5 says: “Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent for an appointed time, so that you may devote time to prayer and may come together again, in order that Satan may not keep tempting you for your lack of self-control.”
Teach Your Children Together
Deuteronomy 6:5-7 brings up the importance of childrearing. It says “You must love your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your strength. These words that I am commanding you today must be on your heart, and you must inculcate them in your sons and speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road and when you lie down and when you get up.”
God wants you to raise your children and teach them about His ways so that they can develop a relationship with Him. Teaching your children about God from a young age will help strengthen their faith and their beliefs during their teenage years.
The Threefold Cord
A marriage is made up of two people and God. This is the strongest bond that there can be. When God is in your marriage it will be nearly impossible to separate your union. This means meditating on scriptures together, praying together and for one another, and having a regular spiritual routine as a married couple.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 brings out the importance of including scriptural principles and God’s Holy Spirit in your relationship. This scripture reads “Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their hard work. For if one of them falls, the other can help his partner up. But what will happen to the one who falls with no one to help him up? Moreover, if two lie down together, they will stay warm, but how can just one keep warm? And someone may overpower one alone, but two together can take a stand against him. And a threefold cord cannot quickly be torn apart.”
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