Lexham Press

Blog

  • Facebook
  • x-twitter
  • instagram
  • youtube
  • LexhamPress.com
  • Blog Categories
    • News
    • Biblical Studies
    • Theology
    • Pastoral
    • Christian Living
    • Church History
    • Biblical Languages
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • What We Do
    • Contact Us

What Makes a Happy Marriage?

on April 4, 2019

Is a satisfying marriage a mirage? Can two sinners?not to mention offspring!?live in close proximity and intimacy and be truly happy? It is possible, with work and wisdom. In Christian Marriage: A Comprehensive Introduction, David J. Ayers offers some guidelines for the pursuit of a fulfilling marriage. These are presented below as bullet point summaries, but each point is expanded upon in the book.

Good Marriages Start with God

  • Put God first. The center of every godly marriage is relationship with God.
  • Forgive one another. The degree to which loving our spouse involves giving and receiving grace as we walk together will inform our perceptions and deepen our love.
  • Find unity in your faith. Share in church involvement, common faith, and prayer.

Good Marriages Develop Good Habits

  • Be radically committed. A basic condition for marital success is to be radically committed to the union itself, in good times and bad.
  • Build fences around romantic and sexual temptation. Adultery is a serious danger, and we do well to treat it with all the gravity, care, and attention it deserves.
  • Establish godly financial priorities. A couple?s budget and expenditures are a window into their hearts.
  • Pursue good communication and conflict management. These are key to establishing and maintaining a warm, enjoyable, supportive, effective, interpersonal relationship.
  • Maintain trust. A trusting relationship can only come through consistent and continual honesty
  • Have frequent sex. Believers should make this as much an object of prayer and seeking wisdom as every other area of their marital relationship.

Good Marriages Pursue Wisdom

  • Be realistic about the effects of having children. When a couple has children, care for their spouse and offspring calls them to higher levels of demanding service and sacrifice then marriage alone may require.
  • Be agreed upon the pursuit of paid employment. Couples should agree on how they will meet the financial needs of the family and who will pursue paid work.
  • Share work around the house. Both husbands and wives are happier in their marriages when they equally share the work around the house.
  • Pursue supportive social networks. It is important to have friends and family behind one?s marriage.
  • Spend time with family. Quality time with one?s spouse and children is essential and will likely require intention, effort, and creativity.

There is no secret recipe to a great marriage. All good marriages require well-placed effort. Pursuing healthy priorities, habits, and wisdom will go a long way towards marital success.

More from the Lexham Press blog

  • The Joys and Perils on the Road to MarriageThe Joys and Perils on the Road to Marriage
  • Abraham Kuyper and the Fight for Educational LibertyAbraham Kuyper and the Fight for Educational Liberty
  • Recovering the Christian Way of DeathRecovering the Christian Way of Death
  • Great Deal Alert: Get I Dare You Not to Bore Me with the Bible for Just $0.99!Great Deal Alert: Get I Dare You Not to Bore Me with the Bible for Just $0.99!
  • The Task of a Modern and Confessional TheologianThe Task of a Modern and Confessional Theologian
  • Why Is Counting the Ten Commandments so Difficult?Why Is Counting the Ten Commandments so Difficult?
0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Search

Categories

Recent Posts

  • “What Do We Call You, Lord?”: Christmas Prayers from the Early Church
  • “Glory to Your Coming, Which Made Us Alive”: Christmas Prayers from the Early Church
  • The Power of Revival: Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Baptism in the Spirit, and Preaching on Fire: An Interview with Dongjin Park
  • Prayers for Advent: A Free Reflection Guide

Fall 2023 Catalog

Lexham Press Fall 2023 Catalog

(PDF)

Review Copies

Request a Faculty or Media review copy
Lexham Press
  • Facebook
  • x-twitter

- - Copyright ©  2020 Faithlife | Logos Bible Software | Privacy

wpDiscuz