Love Bears All Things

The Word of God states, in 1 Corinthians 13:7, that love “beareth all things” (KJV).  Indeed, this is one of the characteristics that reveals the force and nature of love.  But, what does scripture mean by this statement? What is the practical application of this principle with respect to the love between a husband and a wife in the bonds of holy matrimony?

5 Keys to Success in Marriage

There exists an age old question regarding which type of relationship style provides the best potential for a happy marriage.  What is the ideal blend of personalities, interests, backgrounds, experiences, and other characteristics that results in marital bliss?  There is not a single correct answer.  Couples manage to find success in marriage in all sorts of circumstances -and virtually anywhere on the relationship style spectrum.  However, marriage experts have identified a few key factors that serve to predict happy and lasting unions.  The most important of these characteristics are discussed, below.

Parent-in-Law Relationships

One aspect of marriage and family life that presents potential for difficulties is the relationship between an individual and the parents of his or her spouse.  The nature of these challenges differs greatly depending on the personalities, family situation, and other circumstances of those involved.  However, there are certainly several areas in which problems are common.  The purpose of this brief article is to identify some of these more common areas and provide some basic principles for navigating through the rough spots of parent-in-law relationships.

Bedtime: 3 Most Important Times of Day

The Bible admonishes us to “let not the sun go down upon your wrath” (Eph. 4:26).  Some have paraphrased this scriptural mandate with the simple phrase “don’t go to bed angry”.  These are sound words to apply in any relationship or situation.  But, certainly we would be remiss if we did not apply this timeless wisdom to our marriage and home life first and foremost.  After all, our family relationships are the most important of all our human associations.

Love Does Not Rejoice in Wrongdoing

Among the many lessons on love that we are able to glean from 1 Corinthians 13 is the maxim that genuine, Christian love “does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in truth” (I Cor 13:6 ESV). Of course, the immediate purpose of this verse (and entire chapter) is to emphasize the priority of love in ministry, fellowship, and the exercise of spiritual gifts. However, these verses also inform us greatly regarding the overall concept of love as it relates to other areas of life. Certainly we can deduce some practical instructions involving the love between a man and woman united in marriage.

Love Thinks No Evil

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 delineates several critical attributes that reveal the force and nature of love. Among these is the sentiment that love thinks no evil. What does scripture mean by this statement? What is the practical application of this principle with respect to the love between a husband and wife?

Moral Commitment to Marriage

Moral commitment to one’s partner involves having a strongly held belief in the institution of marriage itself. Generally this includes a religious or spiritual component. But, it also may entail a more utilitarian element. In other words, those who have a moral commitment to marriage believe that it is the best possible option for social and relational existence – whether the rationale derives from religious doctrine, social ethics, or both.

Peace in Your Marriage

The Bible is replete with lessons that teach us the proper way to treat others and conduct ourselves in personal relationships. Among the most important of these teachings is that our associations and dealings with others should exist within the boundaries of peace. This biblical principle is general in nature and not specifically directed to the relationship between husbands and wives. However, it is certainly reasonable and appropriate to apply these admonitions to marriage, which is, after all, among the most important of all human relationships. Certainly it is God’s will for Christian marriages to exemplify the concept of peace.

Love is Not Exasperated

According to 1 Corinthians 13:5, one of the characteristics that demonstrates the force and nature of true, biblical love is that it “is not easily provoked” (KJV). Other translations of this verse inform us that love is not touchy, irritable, fretful, resentful, angered, or annoyed. In a word, love is never exasperated. This phrase illustrates the proper attitude that Christians should have towards others when we are filled with God’s love. However, it is also easy to practically apply this lesson of love to marriages – the most important of human relationships according to God’s Word.

Love is Not Self-Seeking

The Bible teaches that one of the prominent characteristics that reveals the force and nature of love is that it “seeketh not her own” (1 Corinthian 13:5, KJV) or “is not self-seeking” (NIV). Essentially this means that those who embody true, biblical love do not insist upon their own way or their own rights. Rather, those who genuinely love neither take any thought for themselves nor pursue their own interests. They are unselfish. In a culture that is overrun with a sense of entitlement and egocentrism, this is a critical lesson to be learned. This is especially the case when it comes to one of the most selfish ventures of our times – marriage.

Love is Not Rude

One of the characteristics that reveals the force and nature of love, according to 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, is that “love is not rude”. Or, as translated by the King James Version, love “doth not behave itself unseemly”. In essence, the expression means that those who embody true, biblical love do not speak or act in a way that is indecent, offensive, or dishonorable to others. If this is an expected quality regarding the Christian’s relationship with others, in general, it is even more important we reflect this principle in our most important human relationship of all – with our partner in marriage.

The Power of Encouragement in Marriage

Research demonstrates that one predominate characteristic of exciting, satisfying relationships is that marital partners choose to encourage one another. This should come as no surprise. The necessity of encouragement is a repetitive theme in God's Word.

The Blessings and Benefits of Traditional Marriage

The Bible teaches us that marriage is a covenant between one man and one woman that was designed and ordained by God. In a successful Christian marriage the participants enter into a life-long covenant and commitment with one another and, together, with God. Because God instituted marriage and is, Himself, a part of the marital covenant with the couple there are many blessings and benefits that a faithfully married couple enjoy.

God Hates Divorce

"I hate divorce" - God

It is no secret that divorce is a huge problem in American society. Every 27 seconds a couple divorces. There are 7,000 divorces per day affecting 10,000 children. Divorce rates have doubled since 1965. Over half of all first marriages and sixty percent of second marriages end in divorce. At current rates, about 1.5 million couples divorce each year in the U.S. Perhaps saddest of all, Christians are reportedly divorcing at approximately the same rates as non-Christians. Divorce is ravaging our nation.

What does God think of this trend of divorce that is so prevalent today?

Love is Not Proud

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 delineates several critical attributes that reveal the force and nature of love. Among these is the sentiment that love is not proud. What does scripture mean by this statement? What is the practical application of this principle with respect to the love between a husband and a wife?

Love Yourself and Strengthen Your Marriage

Scripture declares that we should each love others in the same manner that we love ourselves (Lev. 19:8, Mat. 22:39, Mar. 12:31, Rom. 13:9, Gal. 5:14, Jas. 2:8).  The "golden rule" taught by Jesus states that we should each treat others the way in which we would like to be treated (Mat. 7:12, Luk. 6:31).  Indeed, the only way we can truly know how to respect and esteem others is to first have self-respect and self-esteem.  A person with a negative self-image will invariably depreciate others and treat them poorly.  The Bible, in all it's wisdom, works from the assumption that positive human interactions are only possible when people love themselves first.  That is, when they have an appreciation of their own worth, strive to fulfill their own needs, seek happiness, and have a healthy sense of self-confidence, personal regard, and dignity.  Self-love is a critical component to successful relationships.  This is especially true in marriage.

Love Does Not Boast

One of the primary features, according to 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, that reveals the force and nature of love is the sentiment that love does not boast. The meaning of this expression is multifaceted. The Greek term - variously rendered as boastful, vaunted, vainglorious, conceited, and braggart – appears nowhere else in the Bible and is also rare in ancient literature. There are several explanations regarding the significance of this important principle. Each sheds much light on the role of love in the Christian life and, by extension, the spirit of love in marriage.

Love Does Not Envy

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 delineates several critical attributes that reveal the force and nature of love. Among these features is the truth that love does not envy. What does scripture mean by this statement? What is the practical application of this teaching with respect to the love between a husband and a wife?

Love is Kind

Kindness is a critical attribute that reveals the force and nature of love according to 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. What does scripture mean when it asserts that “love is kind”? The Greek word rendered “kind” in this verse literally means to “show oneself useful” in the sense of manners or morals. There are two basic concepts contained in this idea. And both shed much light on love between a husband and wife.

Love is Patient

Patience is a critical attribute that reveals the force and nature of love, according to 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. The King James Version states that love “suffereth long”. The Greek word literally means “to hold oneself up against”. This is a figurative saying similar in meaning to the modern phrase “to put up with”. In other words, the Apostle is declaring “love puts up with a lot”. In biblical usage, the term describes long-suffering, forbearance or patience with respect to interactions and relationships with others.