Does Marriage Equal Happiness?
A reporter once asked an interviewee, “why do you want to get married?” to which the interviewee replied, “well, I want to be happy.”
As it turns out, this idea — that marriage is about making you happy is common in this day and age. Turn on any Hollywood “romantic comedy” and you’ll see someone looking for marriage to complete them or make them happier. In other words, popular culture views marriage as something that is self-seeking.
There are many problems with this way of thinking; one is that when conflict arises, or someone in the marriage decides they are no longer “happy,” they feel entitled to a divorce. This is all so destructive.
The Bible says in Ephesians 5:25-27, “Husbands, love your wife, as Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word…”
According to this message of love and marriage, husbands are called to love selflessly in the image of Christ. In the same way, women are called to respect and love their husbands—also bearing Christ’s image.
This paradigm requires us to have a servant’s heart towards our spouse—even when we’re not necessarily happy.
This week, I urge you to love your spouse. Perhaps your marriage can show Christ to other couples in your life.
“This paradigm requires us to have a servant’s heart towards our spouse—even when we’re not necessarily happy.”
Ephesians 5:25-27
“Husbands, love your wife, as Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word…”