The Greatest of These is Love

But now faith, hope, and love remain; these three virtues must characterize our lives. The greatest of these is love. — 1 Corinthians 13:13 (The Voice)

He who loves his wife loves himself. — Ephesians 5:28

There are three elements to a successful marriage.

The first is love—not just an emotional feeling or a physical attraction, but a deep commitment to put the other person first.

The apostle Paul defined love beautifully in 1 Corinthians 13. Read it and you will know how God defines love.

Men are to love their wives as Christ loved the Church. What woman wouldn’t respond to such a selfless expression of love?

Maturity is the second ingredient in a successful marriage. Too many are getting a divorce at the first sign of trouble. Maturity means a willingness to act responsibly and not take the easy way out.

Third, faith must be an ingredient for a marriage to be successful. Marriage is difficult, but without Christ at the center of a marriage and a home, it becomes even more difficult. Put differently it takes three to make a great marriage: you, your spouse, and Christ.

I have seldom seen a marriage fail when the husband and wife pray and worship God together.

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Your Turn

As believers, we know that the chief character trait of a Christ-follower should be love. What challenges do you face when it comes to loving your spouse, family members, friends, or work colleagues? What is your response to Dr. Graham’s description of the three elements to a successful marriage? Please leave a comment on our blog. We would love to hear from you!