How Biblical Roles Promote Healthy Marriages

We considered a couple of the benefits found when a husband and wife both follow God’s “blueprint for marriage” from Ephesians 5:22-33.

As described by the Apostle Paul, the role of the husband is to love and cherish his wife sacrificially, as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her.

A wife, meanwhile, is to submit to her husband as she does to the Lord, honoring and respecting him.

When both the husband and wife fulfill these biblical roles, the result is deepened love, intimacy, and trust—a much healthier, godlier marriage. Biblical roles keep a relationship deepening year after year.

There will be times when you think, “It can’t get any better than this.” But guess what? It can! Sometimes you have to pinch yourself to see if your marriage is real. Your feelings are so healthy…your respect is so deep…your desire is so strong.

The longer you fulfill your role, the more the relationship will improve.

But when one of you stops fulfilling your role, the opposite happens. Your marriage will begin to deteriorate. Your hope for a dream marriage may turn into a nightmare.

Look around at others’ marriages. It’s likely you’ll see an atmosphere of mistrust surrounding the institution of marriage. While marriage is still fairly well-respected in our culture, people have become more pessimistic about their chances of enjoying a long-term, successful relationship.

Hearing of a couple divorcing or having marital problems only confirms these fears—and we hear of these failing marriages all the time.

But do you know of any bad marriages made of two people who love each other the way the Bible says they should?

My guess is that the answer to that question is a resounding NO.

On the other hand, how many struggling marriages can be characterized by a selfish, “out-to-lunch” husband or an angry, dishonoring wife?

No one description fits every problem marriage, but it doesn’t take long to realize that bad marriages begin with people who are functioning in unbiblical roles.

God’s design for marriage requires a sacrificial male leading an honoring female, and this plan for marriage works. A husband and wife who selflessly direct their love toward each other will enjoy a perfect friendship and healthy marriage. Though this is far from what many experience, it is not out of reach.

A blissful, biblical marriage starts when both partners put their faith in God’s Word and believe He has the answers they seek. When you obey God’s design, you’ll both experience the blessings of his love.

“Give, and it will be given to you…for whatever measure you deal out to others, it will be dealt to you in return” (Luke 6:38).

As you continue to give to each other, you’ll find those measures of blessings returned time and time again. God will honor your marriage. As you lay your life down for your mate, you will find the life you have been seeking.