A Godly Foundation For A Thriving Marriage

Marriage, a divine institution, is the most precious and yet most attacked relationship, humanly speaking. From the beginning, God designed marriage as the cornerstone of human relationships, a union of love, companionship, and purpose.

Yet, because of its significance, it has also been the most targeted by Satan, sin, and society as a whole. What God created in perfection has been marred by sin—distorted by selfishness, brokenness, and worldly philosophies. However, through Christ, marriage can be mended by grace—restored, strengthened, and realigned with its original purpose.

What does Scripture teach about marriage?

God created it (Genesis 2:18-24) as He designed companionship to be a profound bond. Unfortunately, this was tainted by sin, introducing conflict and suffering into what was originally harmonious (Genesis 3:16-19). Yet, despite this brokenness, He provided hope for restoration through grace, which offers healing and redemption, ultimately guiding us back to the love and unity intended from the beginning (Ephesians 5:22-33).

Before marriage can be what God intended, individuals must develop godly character in their own lives and create a platform for a strong Biblical marriage.

You cannot have a strong marriage unless you become a strong individual in Christ. Before examining some Biblical principles of marriage, we must first look at the personal qualities needed to be a good spouse.

Before individuals can be good marriage partners, they must first develop personal attributes of some godly characteristics in their own lives. A healthy, Christ-centered marriage requires responsibility, discipline, obedience to God's commands, and an ability to maintain strong relationships.

Both man and woman have responsibility to fulfill in their relationship. God told man to dress and keep the garden of Eden, thus establishing man's responsibility in marriage. Responsibility is one of the most beautiful things God gave to man. His role in the garden demonstrates that a husband is called to provide for and protect his family. God entrusted Adam not only with the garden but also with the stewardship of all creation.

"And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it." - Genesis 2:15

"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:" - Ephesians 5:25-29

A wife also plays a crucial role in nurturing, managing the home, and supporting her husband.

"She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness." - Proverbs 31:27

What are the foundations of Marriage?

Man did not create marriage; God designed it from the very beginning. In Genesis 1-3, we see the blueprint of marriage - how God formed it, defined it, and set its purpose. A Biblical marriage follows God's pattern, not the world's shifting opinions.

When marriage is built on God's design, it is a source of strength, joy, and spiritual growth. However, when built on human wisdom alone, it often creates conflict, instability, and disappointment.

"And the Lord God said, it is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him." - Genesis 2:18

Marriage is more than a legal contract - it is a sacred covenant. When we follow God's design, marriage reflects His love, faithfulness, and purpose.

Purpose of Marriage

Marriage should never be sought for personal gain, emotional escape, or social status. A person must be complete in Christ before seeking completion in another person.

For a thriving marriage, we must begin to embrace the purposes for which God created it:

• To Honor God (Hebrews 13:4)

• To Offer Companionship (Genesis 2:18)

• To Enjoy Intimacy (Genesis 4:1)

• To Raise Godly Children (Deuteronomy 6:6-7)

Misguided Incentives for Marriage

Many individuals enter marriage for reasons that are not rooted in God's purpose, which often leads to unhealthy dynamics and future challenges in their relationships.

Some people seek marriage as a means to escape feelings of loneliness or to leave behind difficult life circumstances.

There are those who believe that marriage can be a form of trying to "fix" either oneself or one's partner. This mindset may involve the hope that committing to someone will magically resolve personal issues or behavioral problems. However, this approach often places unrealistic expectations on the relationship and can create additional tension.

For others, the motivation behind marriage is centered around personal pleasure or practical benefits. This can include seeking financial stability, convenience in living arrangements, or even social status and marrying to achieve social stability or financial success rather than following God's purpose.

Provisions of Marriage

Marriage meets a need we all have. Before God created Eve, everything in creation was declared "good," except for one thing. For the first time, God acknowledged that something was "not good": man's loneliness. Although Adam had a relationship with God, dominion over creation, and meaningful work, he still felt incomplete. Marriage was God's solution to man's need for companionship, partnership, and help.

"And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him." - Genesis 2:18

It provides companionship. God created Eve not only as a human but also as Adam's companion—his help meet, uniquely crafted for him. Marriage, the closest human relationship, is founded on love, trust, and unity.

"And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; out for Adam there was not found an help meet for him." - Genesis 2:20

Adam named every animal in the garden, yet none were found to be a suitable companion for him. This illustrates that only a woman, created by God, could fulfill the role of a wife and complete man in marriage. Marriage is a God-given solution to human loneliness. A strong, Christ-centered marriage offers comfort, companionship, and encouragement, reflecting God's intention for oneness and relationship.

Partnership Of Marriage

God could have created Eve from the dust of the earth, just as He did with Adam. However, He chose to take a rib from Adam's side to form her. This decision was not accidental; it was intentional and symbolic. The rib signifies that Eve was not made from Adam's head to rule over him, nor was she made from his feet to be trampled upon. Instead, she was created from his side to be his equal companion, close to his heart.

"Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered." - 1 Peter 3:7

Husbands and wives do not compete; they support and complete one another. Marriage provides mutual support. Each has a unique role given by God, and when they work together in unity, they reflect God's design for marriage.

"And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man." - Genesis 2:23

In a biblical marriage, both husband and wife contribute to the strength and health of the relationship. The husband leads with love, and the wife supports with wisdom and grace, creating a marriage based on cooperation and unity.

Priorities of Marriage

God establishes the order of relationships. One of the most significant sources of conflict in marriage arises from misplaced priorities. Many couples struggle because they place other relationships—such as those with their children, parents, work, or friends—above their relationship with their spouse. However, God provided a clear priority in Genesis.

"Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." - Genesis 2:24

This verse appears three more times in the Scriptures to reinforce the Biblical concept of prioritizing your relationship with your spouse. The order should be: God first, spouse second, and everyone else a distant third. When priorities are misaligned, tension arises; peace follows when they are correctly ordered.

"And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might." - Deuteronomy 6:5

"I am my beloved's, and his desire is toward me." - Song of Solomon 7:10

Privacy of Marriage

Marriage requires openness between spouses. Quite honestly, there is no privacy!

"And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed" - Genesis 2:25

Nothing should come between a husband and wife, not even clothes. This concept teaches us that God desires complete openness, which is unique to the marital union. In this space of trust and transparency, the phrase "none of your business" should never find its way into the conversations between partners, as it implies a separation that contradicts the unity they are meant to embody.

Build on God's Foundation

"Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it" - Psalm 127:1

A successful marriage must be intentionally built on God's foundation. When couples adhere to God's design, their marriage is not only able to endure but also to thrive. By embracing the foundation of marriage—God's provision, partnership, priority, and privacy—husbands and wives can strengthen their bond, glorify God, and create a lasting legacy of faithfulness.