On Keeping Our Marriage Vows

Marriage vows are unique vows expressed before God and witnesses, by a man and a woman, that are explicitly intended to be binding until death separates them (Matthew 19:6; Romans 7:1-2). The very words, “for better, for worse; for richer, for poorer; in sickness and in health,” implies that it may not be an easy task to remain committed to these vows.

For we know that as circumstances change, our spouses will change as well.

Maintaining a successful marriage is not an easy task, simply because disagreements and difficult adjustments abound. For example, accepting the difficulties of poverty, hardship, and disappointment can many times lead to depression and unhappiness in a marriage relationship.

However, as followers of Christ, we need to "think" of our marriage vows as a binding obligation to love, honor, and cherish one another for as long as we both shall live because Jesus has asked us to do so. And if we are committed to being Jesus’ "friend" (John 15:14), we will keep our marriage vows, even when we don‘t “feel“ like keeping them.

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets