“Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain” (Psalm 127:1).
People often spend far more time planning for a successful wedding than preparing for a lasting marriage. But every day—with every word and action—you’re building your home. The question is: Is your marriage built to last?
God designed the home to be built on Him and by Him. He is the architect and the builder, as well as the foundation for marriage (1 Corinthians 3:11). Understanding that truth is crucial to knowing how it functions. But a marriage isn’t automatically strong just because you both believe in Jesus. You also have to live in Him.
That means loving selflessly and sacrificially. It means staying close to the Lord personally, looking to Him for direction, and seeking to please Him more than yourself—or even your spouse. We often search the Bible for marriage verses but forget that every command we obey or ignore impacts our home. So, commit to loving God with all your heart, soul, and mind. Determine to love your spouse as much as you love yourself (Matthew 22:37–39). That’s building on the strongest foundation possible.
But building your marriage on Christ is only part of the picture. Scripture also gives clear examples of how to guard what you’re building. For example, when a man compromises God’s standards, he compromises his spiritual influence over his family (Genesis 19:14). And when a wife tears down with her words instead of building up, her husband tends to withdraw (Proverbs 14:1; 21:9, 19).
Ignoring God’s instructions puts your home at risk. Since He created marriage, He knows best how it works. When you doubt what the Lord says, Satan replaces it with a lie. And if you buy into those lies, you’ll start thinking emotionally about your marriage instead of truthfully.
What about you? As you’ve read this, what specific things has God brought to mind? Don’t ignore His prompting. A strong marriage starts with you—with your walk with Jesus. As you each draw closer to Him, you’ll naturally draw closer to one another. Yes, the storms of life will still come. But if your home is built on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ, you can withstand them—because your marriage is built to last (Matthew 7:24).
