“Love sincerely. . . . Hold on to what is good. Be devoted to each other like a loving family. Excel in showing respect for each other.” Romans 12:9-10 (GW)

Strong marriages are good for everyone. They benefit those who are part of those relationships and even help strengthen whole communities. 

Throughout history, marriage has been the fundamental building block of every society and culture. When marriages have been strong, nations have been strong. When marriages and families weaken, cultures decline.

Healthy marriages also benefit the people around them. God uses these relationships to shape your character, helping you learn how to be unselfish and loving. And if you get married, no other relationship will have a greater impact on your life.

If you’re not married, God can still use and will use other people to build your character. You’re not off the hook! Single people who are godly and others-focused play a critical role in flourishing cultures. In fact, sometimes they play roles that married couples can’t.

Life is a laboratory for learning how to love. Learning to love is the most important thing you can do because God is love, and he wants you to become like him. He wants to make you like Jesus Christ. He wants to build your character—and he wants to do that whether or not you’re married. 

If you’re married, one tool God uses in your life to build Christ-like character is your spouse. Every day, he gives you hundreds of opportunities to think about the other person’s needs instead of your own.

The Bible says, “Love sincerely. . . . Hold on to what is good. Be devoted to each other like a loving family. Excel in showing respect for each other” (Romans 12:9-10 GW).

Do you do that in your marriage? Before I got married so many years ago, I really thought I knew how to love a woman. But I knew nothing about love! Now, after 50 years of marriage, I know that love washes the dishes. I know that love takes out the garbage. I know that love puts the other person first.

So, “Love sincerely. . . . Excel in showing respect for each other” so that you grow to be more like Christ. It will lead to a stronger relationship for you and a stronger society for everyone.