Marriage is more than a contract, or even a commitment. It is a covenant—a sacred promise before God, for God, and because of God. While the world may redefine marriage to suit personal preference or emotional fulfillment, Scripture roots it in something far deeper: holiness.
“A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” – Matthew 19:5 (NLT)
It’s easy to romanticize a wedding day—the flowers, the music, the vows. But holy matrimony is not made on the wedding day; it is forged in the everyday decisions to love, serve, sacrifice, and remain. The feelings of love may come and go, but the actions of love—those are commanded, chosen, and sustained by grace.
Marriage was God’s idea. In Genesis, God created man and woman and brought them together—not just for companionship or reproduction—but to reflect His own image. In Ephesians 5, Paul tells us that marriage paints a picture of Christ’s sacrificial love for His church. This isn’t a relationship of convenience. It’s a living, breathing gospel drama played out in our homes.
But let’s be honest: marriage is hard. Two selfish people don’t automatically become saints when they say, “I do.” We bring our wounds, histories, and pride into the union. That’s why God doesn’t promise marriage will make us happy. He promises it will make us holy.
The culture around us says, “Find someone who completes you.” But that’s a crushing expectation. No spouse can carry the weight of godhood. Only Christ completes us. Marriage, then, isn’t about finding someone to meet our every need; it’s about giving ourselves fully to another for God’s glory.
It’s not a consumer relationship—“I’ll stay as long as this works for me.” It’s a covenant—“I’ll stay because I’ve promised, and God is faithful.”
So what does a covenant marriage look like? It looks like daily sacrifice and mutual submission. It looks like a husband who lays down his life, energy, and selfish ambition for the good of his wife. It looks like a wife who respects, encourages, and trusts her husband, not because he’s perfect, but because Christ is.
And in the midst of that give-and-take, something beautiful happens: sanctification. Together, we grow into the image of Christ. We push each other toward heaven. We cheer one another on until we both hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Marriage is not for the faint of heart. It’s for the brave, the committed, the grace-filled. It’s not about feeling in love every day but rather about choosing love every day. And when we choose to love like Jesus, the home we build becomes holy ground.