“Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.” (Heb. 13:4 NASB)
They clinked their wine glasses together and kissed, just as we came through the door. When they saw us, their faces went white. Their eyes quickly dropped in shame.
Both were married; just not to each other.
We accidentally bumped into this “couple” over 300 miles away from home. After our awkward greeting, they said they had to leave.
Although we didn’t tell anyone about it (we barely knew them), both were divorced within a year.
You’ve probably experienced something like this, too. In 2024, the NIH estimated that infidelity occurs in 25% of marriages in the U.S. This is so very sad.
Perhaps one of the root causes of infidelity is how people “view” (or think of) marriage.
Some joke about marriage being the “old ball and chain.” Others think of marriage as a limited partnership with an exit ramp, if needed. Some don’t even bother to get married because the institution has no value to them.
If the couple we ran into had “held marriage in honor,” perhaps they wouldn’t have had an affair.
Here’s the truth: How you view marriage is how you’ll do marriage.
Apparently, things weren’t much different in the first century, so the writer of Hebrews taught that “marriage is to be held in honor among all.” (Heb. 13:4)
Here’s why marriage should be “held in honor:”
-It’s the closest bond two people can have.
-Marriage is the building block of every society, in every culture.
-The home provides a safe, nurturing place for raising children.
-The bond of marriage is far-reaching, affecting future generations.
-A strong marriage strengthens the church.
-Marriage was created and instituted by God Himself.
God designed marriage to be a great blessing, not a curse. But let’s be real here: marriage can be hard. And sometimes, the flaws can outweigh the blessings of the relationship. Yet, God still calls us to honor and uphold marriage, as best we can.
5 ways to honor marriage:
- If you’re married, try to stay that way. Leaving should be a last resort, not a first response.
- Honor marriage with your words. Even if your marriage didn’t work out, defend it, uphold it, and refer to it positively.
- Thank God every day for your marriage (even when it’s hard). Thank God for the marriages of others.
- Teach your kids about God’s original design for marriage: one husband for one wife. No matter how hard modern culture tries to redefine God’s plan, it cannot. (See Gen. 1:27, 2:18, 2:23-24)
- Ask God to bless your marriage and the marriages of others, daily.
A Prayer Thanking God for Marriage
Dear Lord,
Thank you for creating marriage and for the great privilege of being married. Thank you for my spouse. Thank you for the beautiful way you weave lives together. Please forgive me when I fail to grasp the wonder and value of marriage. Enable me to see my marriage as your blessing, today. Remind me to honor the marriages of others, as well. In Jesus’s name, amen.
Questions for Reflection:
- How is your marriage a blessing? Make a list of what you’re most grateful for and thank God for these things throughout the day.
- What one thing could you do today to make your marriage stronger?
- How could you uphold someone else’s marriage?
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Serhii Sobolevskyi
May Patterson, author of the book, Seeking a Familiar Face, began writing over a decade ago in response to God’s grace. And by His grace, she now has a popular blog and has written many articles for various magazines, including Focus on the Family, Upper Room and iBelieve.com. She has also published a Bible study, A 40-Day Guide for Seeking God, and speaks at a variety of events, both nationally and internationally. Her desire is to encourage people to draw closer to God, like never before.
We hope you and your spouse are challenged and encouraged by today’s devotional! For more of this premium marriage devotional, visit here.
