Relationships of every kind take work. But none takes more as much work as that between a husband and a wife. It’s a beast of a different breed. It requires constant nourishment, care, and reassurance. Without these, there is turmoil and a feeling of hell on earth. Christian couples tend to be, or at least appear to be, ready to address the reasons why marriages fail from the start. The name Christian implies an understanding and practice of certain Biblical principles that encourage the kind of nourishment, care, and reassurance healthy marriages need. Sadly, Christian marriages are failing at an alarming rate and it’s time we address the issue.
3 Reasons Why Marriages Fail Even for Christian Couples
Jesus. He is the reason Christians choose to follow the Bible. When they choose Christ, they ideally make a lifetime commitment. So making a lifetime commitment to a spouse should be a piece of cake, right? Unfortunately, even couples married for more than a decade and who pray and worship are in trouble. Here are three reasons why marriages fail even for Christian couples.
In this article:
- Couples forget the strength of the marriage covenant
- Taking a lesson from the Bonnie and Clyde playbook is essential
- When Christian couples forget the most important thing failure is inevitable
Many Christian couples fail at marriage because individuals forget that when they got married, they entered into a covenant relationship with God. Unfortunately, as time passes, individuals focus less on their spouse, more on themselves, and allow others to enter into their marital space.
The strength of the marriage covenant
The legal marital agreement made between a husband and wife is a man-made contract that is difficult to uphold during tough times. On the other hand, the covenant or agreement that you and your spouse made before God should be easier to uphold during tough times because He is always faithful to His Word.
The marriage covenant is based on an agreement and commitment to operate as one in togetherness. Gen 2:24 states, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh”. This means that husband and wife become one and should always strive to work in harmony. Also, Matthew 19:6 states, “What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.”
A lesson from the Bonnie and Clyde playbook
Couples should have a Bonnie and Clyde mentality, “Us Against the World.” This does not mean that others cannot contribute to your marriage, but be leery of anyone who tries to create separation within your household.
Divorce lurks when Christian couples lose understanding of what it means to join together in agreement where no man can separate them. God has already provided the template for marital success, but many couples allow family members and others to cause separation within their marriage, thus destroying the essence of what it means to become “one flesh.”
The most important thing for Christian couples to remember
Christian couples trying to understand the reasons why marriages fail often forget something important. The covenant with your spouse is bigger than each individual and their commitment to the church. Both spouses agreed to become one flesh and to let no man separate them. The success of their marriage does not depend solely on each other, but on the promises of God.
If you are working to save your marriage, please keep in mind that marriage is not a contractual agreement; it is a covenant between you and your spouse that can withstand the test of time because it was based on God’s word. Take some time to read and meditate on Gen 2:24 and Matthew 19:6. When the Word of God is absent in marriage, so is the absence of life long commitment.
BMWK: Are you a Christian couple ready to turn things around? What can you do to change the course of your marriage?
Up Next: 20 God-Centered Tips for a Successful Christian Marriage Outside of Church
Editor’s Note – This post was originally published on December 5, 2017, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.