Three Important Keys for Marriage

1–LOVE. Love is patient, kind, does not envy or boast. Love is not arrogant, rude, or self-seeking. Love is not irritable or resentful. Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing but with the truth. Love bears, believes, hopes, and ensures all things. Love NEVER fails. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).

Choose to display such love toward your spouse…in the best and worst of times.

2–COMMITMENT. Love is not a feeling. It is a commitment.

Many people look for the “feeling” of love…the mushy feelings and highs of connecting with another person, but never reach a “commitment” of love.

As we take our spouses for better or worse, rich or poor, and sickness or health, we cannot only be around for better, rich, or healthy days. There will be bad days…really bad. There might be poor days or even sickness.

Many people will never reach the highs of marriage without going through some valleys, and learning how to live with another person who is receiving God’s continued grace, mercy, and forgiveness just as they are.

Be committed in your marriage because you are first committed to Christ.

3–FORGIVENESS. When dealing with two people, often totally different, issues might arise. One or both of you will hurt one another. You will say something that offends. You will do something that angers the other. You might do something that breaks your spouse’s heart.

Forgiveness is treating another person as if they never wronged you. And love doesn’t keep a record of wrongs. As long as you make the past your present, you will hold unto the hurt, pain, and anger. The root of bitterness will grow like an oak tree in your heart. Your heart will grow colder and your resolve to leave the marriage will increase…and if you don’t leave, you will wish you did.

At some point, you will need to forgive and be forgiven…

In order for forgiveness to exist, love and commitment must be present. And as you might notice, these all grow from your relationship with God. He is the foundation on which your relationship must be built.