The Five Pillars of a Healthy MarriageSýnishorn

Preferring Others / Honour

1 Corinthians 13 is a popular scripture that is often referred to as the Love chapter. It is a favorite for weddings with its romantic overtones, maybe you had it spoken in your ceremony?

Whilst it is a wonderful model for a loving relationship, highlighting things like patience, preferring others, and keeping short accounts, I believe verse 7 provides us with a powerful insight into the challenges of marriage. It says, “Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful and endures through every circumstance” (Emphasis added). It doesn’t sound like a very good marketing campaign for marriage, does it?

It does, however, highlight the fact that marriage isn’t necessarily all smooth sailing. Whether yours is a marriage of a few months or decades, perhaps you can recall some seasons you had to ‘endure’ already. There will come challenges that will require every ounce of faith and strength we have. We can be one phone call, one diagnosis, one random incident away from having our worlds turned upside down, and that’s why it is so important to anchor ourselves in God’s description of what love is and to strengthen our relationship by preferring one another.

It’s not always easy, but by committing to doing simple, small things for one another on a regular basis, we can establish habits that display honor and a confident hope in the future of our marriage, regardless of the challenges.

Often the challenges I see in marriages are centered around each partner losing sight of their journey together. They begin to live almost separate lives and become self-focused. It’s understandable in many circumstances because we all have emotional needs, and we all need to feel our place in a relationship is valued. It’s important to remember that even the smallest kind gesture of honor can carry someone through a dark time and strengthen your connection.

It will require mindfulness and intentionality to see it happen.

Reflection

1. Remain hopeful about the future of your marriage, how can you show you value your spouse today?

2. Form a habit: Consider a small, simple thing you can do for your partner on a regular basis that shows your appreciation.

3. Ask Holy Spirit to strengthen you as you live out 1 Corinthians 13.