July 13, 2017 5:23 PM CEST
Marriage is a steady, unchanging institution entered into by two people who are constantly changing as they grow and mature. Success in marriage does not depend on spouses committing themselves to each other as much as it does to their committing themselves to marriage, the unchanging institution that they have mutually entered into.
• It’s not who you love, but what you love: A common notion with most people is that the parties in a marriage—the husband and wife—should honor each other and hold each other in high esteem. This is certainly true, but ultimately it is not what makes a marriage work. What is more important is that they honor and esteem marriage itself.
• Marriage is bigger than the two people in it: The institution of marriage is more important than our personal feelings. There will be times when we will not be in agreement with our spouse, but that has nothing to do with the marriage. Commitment to the marriage, rather than commitment to the person, is the key to success.
• A perfect vow and imperfect lips: Marriage is two imperfect people committing themselves to a perfect institution, by making perfect vows from imperfect lips before a perfect God. Because marriage is a perfect vow made before a perfect God by two imperfect people, only God can make it work. Don’t expect perfection from your spouse.
• Marriage is perfect, but people are imperfect: The institution of marriage is constant; it never changes. People change all the time. If you want success in your marriage, commit yourself to that which does not change. Commit yourself to the institution of marriage. It will become your center of gravity and help keep you solid.
• Changing institutions is not the answer: Once we understand that marriage is an institution to be respected and esteemed, the thought of divorce never enters our minds. Respect for the institution of marriage helps carry us through those times when either our spouse or we act in an unrespectable manner.
• A successful marriage depends on knowledge: A successful marriage has little to do with love. Love does not guarantee success in marriage. Love is very important for happiness in marriage, but by itself it cannot make a marriage work. The only thing that makes a marriage work is knowledge. Success depends on how much we know about something, not how we feel about it.
Marriage is a steady, unchanging institution entered into by two people who are constantly changing as they grow and mature. Success in marriage does not depend on spouses committing themselves to each other as much as it does to their committing themselves to marriage, the unchanging institution that they have mutually entered into.