February 22, 2023

In 2022, the CDC reported over 1.6 million marriages in the US and of those marriages 630,505 resulted in divorces.  Unfortunately, many married couples go separate ways when things don’t work out as they desired and this has sadly become a norm in today’s society. 

Being married for over 35 years, I could attest that marriage is not always full of sunshine. There are moments when all is well and everything runs smoothly, and there are other times when they don’t.  All in all, my wife and I have been blessed with 35 wonderful years of marriage.

So, what is the secret? What is the recipe for a successful marriage? To better answer these questions, we must first understand what marriage is, the origin of marriage, and its intended purpose.

First and foremost, we should understand that marriage is not an invention of man, but rather a sacred institution created by God and for God (Genesis 1:27, 2:24).  The purpose of marriage resides within the purpose and plan of God.  Since marriage is created by God, it must honor and glorify Him.

Ephesians 5:31-32 reads, “For this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife and the two shall become one flesh. This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.”

The marriage between a man and his wife is a reflection of the marriage between Jesus Christ and His Church.  The Bible describes the Son as the groom and the church as His bride.  The Son expressed His love for His bride with a love written in blood that went to the cross.  Husbands, you are to love your wives as Christ loves His church – with a love that knows no end.  A love that was expressed to His bride through self- sacrifice, absolute self-sacrifice. The church expresses her love to the Son.  She joyfully submits to the loving head, acknowledging Him as her leader and following gladly where He leads.  This is the marriage that all marriages should model after.

So, will it always be smooth sailing and easy? Definitely not. There will be challenges to overcome, but what have we learned about the secret to a successful marriage? Look to God’s Word – the Word that has withstood the test of time.