Marriage is the institution that God Himself established when He conducted the first marriage in paradise between Adam and Eve (Genesis 2:24). The Christian marriage is described and operates in accordance with biblical principles. It is the union of a man and a woman (Matthew 19: 4-5).

In a Christian marriage, God does not allow a man to have many wives or a woman to have many husbands, He does not provide for divorce or same-sex marriage. Marriage is the mutual promise and union of the couple before God for their whole life.

Problems in marriage

There is no perfect, problem-free marriage. Only the marriage between Christ and His church, as described in God's Word, will be perfect. But we can make our marriage strong and blessed. How?

Ask Christ to come and take over this marriage.

What the Bible first suggests is that the couple put Jesus Christ into their lives. He is the One who becomes the link between the couple. “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it” (Psalm 127: 1). It is clear that the more we love and seek God, the stronger our marriage will be.

Family prayer and Bible study.

These two things fully affect the overall health of your marriage. If you are not regularly praying with your spouse as well as encouraging and reminding one another of God's Word, you should start doing so today. It is important for a couple to grow together spiritually, because the Bible says: “and the two shall become one flesh” (Ephesians 5:31).

In marriage, we must love one another as Christ did

How much should I love my wife? The Bible gives us the answer. As much as Christ loved the church, to the extent that He sacrificed Himself for it. “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her” (Ephesians 5:25).

So God requires men to love their wives with this tender, unconditional, but sacrificial love, like that of Christ. He is also the one who tells women to obey and love their husbands, just as the Church obeys and loves Christ. “Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything” (Ephesians 5:24). 

In other words, selfishness and self-interest are not part of a Christian marriage, but love and sacrifice are, as the Bible tells us: “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up” (1 Corinthians 13:4).

Be honest

Needless to say, a healthy marriage is one in which there is honesty and truth. One of the most common causes of divorce is secrets and lies between the couple.

Jesus Christ says that “the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). A marriage through which God is glorified is one that is built on the foundation called Christ, who is the "Truth" (John 14:6). Are you telling your husband or wife the whole truth? Is there something you are hiding, or you should say?

Last thoughts

If you want your relationship with your spouse to improve, then start today! By our own strength, we cannot achieve the desired change or improvement. But God can and will do it! So, take some time for yourself and your wife to pray together and ask God to change you both from the inside out. Then God will immediately begin the good work and you will soon see incredible changes. If and when we dedicate ourselves to Him, He, “is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us” (Ephesians 3:20).