What’s love got to do with it?
In today’s culture promoting same sex marriage and cohabitation, is love all that’s needed for a great relationship?Â
Today we talk about the important role traditional marriage plays in society, and what it takes to make marriage strong.
So, is love enough? Mike McManus from Marriage Savers says no, not without the proper skills to maintain the relationship. Here are a few things to think about regarding marriage and divorce:
- A child coming out of a divorced home is three times as likely to drop out of school, face a teen pregnancy, or be expelled
- The divorce rate in America is three times higher than in Britain and France
- 48%Â of adults were married in 2013, compared to 60-some percent forty years ago
- Cohabitation numbers have risen in recent years and many churches are ignoring the problem
Mike and Neil unpack the three steps to building a strong marriage.
- Take a premarital inventory. Sit down with a pastor and unpack personality differences, financial plans, solving conflicts, and raising children. Discussing each of these ahead of time will give you a more solid foundation for your future marriage.
- Pray together on a regular basis. Praying for someone softens your heart toward them.
- Attend church together. A strong community provides support and accountability for a newly married couple. Titus 2 unpacks the importance of community, specifically for young wives.
Mike also discusses how divorce impacts a city, the importance of continuing to date your spouse, and how God moves when an older godly couple starts mentoring a younger couple.
You can contact him through marriagesavers.org.
Image: Flickr
