Five tips for a successful Christian Marriage:
- Both husband and wife must be Christians
- Jesus must come first in both of their lives
- Both people should be otherwise compatible
- Their finances should be adequate for their needs
- Both should pray for wisdom throughout the process
Christians contemplating marriage should read all of 1 Corinthians chapter 7 carefully. Paul’s comments there describe Christian marriage in the context of the sexual immorality that was prevalent at the time. Note that he was warning that while Christian marriages as an alternative are acceptable to God, they still can be difficult (verse 28).
What is God’s role in a Christian Marriage?
Beware of the teaching that we should seek a mate from God. The implication of that is that if God sends a mate to us, the marriage is guaranteed to be successful. The problem with that thinking is that both partners inevitably bring some faults to the marriage that over time can shock such high expectations. No, Paul says something very different in 1 Corinthians 7. In fact, he goes out of his way in verse 39 to say that if a woman’s husband dies, she’s free to marry “whom SHE will“, adding the single requirement “only in the Lord“… meaning that the person must at least be a Christian.
Of course Christian marriages tend to do better than marriages between unbelievers. It’s important to to move carefully just the same. One study concluded that the happiest people in America are married. The same study showed that the unhappiest people in America are also married! Different people no doubt, but it points out that choosing the right person to marry – and even whether or not to get married, is one of the most important – and difficult – decisions that most of us will ever make.
This writer’s view is that the safest path for every Christian is to pray for wisdom wherever you are in the process. Asking for God’s wisdom is different than depending on him to provide your husband or wife. The trick when contemplating marriage though, is hearing God’s voice through the passion. Be wise!