Secret To A Long Marriage

“The two are united into one.” Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.

Mark 10:8-9

FOR YEARS, studies have shown that TV watching is bad for your health. All of that sitting increases your risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. But some of the latest research shows that TV watching can also be bad for your marriage.

After studying nearly four hundred couples, Dr. Jeremy Osborn of Albion College in Michigan found that “people who believe the unrealistic [romantic] portrayals on TV are actually less committed to their spouses.” Most problems aren’t solved in thirty minutes, and couples rarely live “happily ever after” without hard work, patience, and commitment. Instead of letting TV dictate what relationships look like, we should turn off the TV and turn on the real-life romance.

When Jesus was asked about divorce, He said, “Let no one split apart what God has joined together” (Mark 10:9). Yet many marriages fall apart not on biblical grounds but because of unmet expectations. Dr. Osborn said he hopes people will look at their expectations of marriage and ask: “Where did these expectations come from, and are they realistic?”

Marriage isn’t exciting all the time. Fights don’t always end with passionate kisses. But by committing ourselves to our wives and to God, we can create marriages that Hollywood can only dream about.

BOTTOM LINE

What can you do to turn up the romance in your marriage? Have you had unreasonable expectations about marriage?

Moment of Strength: Proverbs 5:18-19