Ephesians 5:31-33
“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.”
Scripture places a very high priority on marriage. As Paul says here in Ephesians 5, marriage is symbolic of the relationship between Christ and the church. For that reason, we should give our marriage the attention it deserves, and we should be diligent about applying biblical principles to our marriage.
The big message is this: Do the work that love requires. Love isn’t magic, but if you do the work it can be magical. Here, then, are Ten Things to do for a healthy marriage:
- Cultivate your walk with the Lord. Walk in love, walk in light, walk in wisdom, and walk in the power of the Spirit. The quality of your relationship with your spouse begins with the quality of your walk with the Lord.
- Study the Bible together. Pray for and with each other. Worship together. Serve and minister together.
- Be quick to forgive and quick to say you are sorry.
- Discuss and debate, but don’t fight. Who is right is not important. What is right is.
- Slow down and really listen to each other. Seek first to understand, then to be understood. Be slow to speak, quick to listen, and slow to anger.
- Be proactive, not inactive or reactive. Be the first to do the right thing.
- Be positive. Negativity drains energy from a relationship. Positivity gives energy to a relationship.
- Be patient. The best things in life take time. Invest the time.
- Do things together. Walks, talks, chores, events, meals, exercise, travel. Do as many things together as you can. With the busy schedules we have, this can be a challenge. So when you are together, be together. Make the most of the time that you do have.
- Finally, I repeat the big message: Do the work that love requires. Love isn’t magic, but if you do the work it can be magical.
Trust God, love your spouse, and do the work!
