Keeping Your Marriage Together Through Biblical Authority

By Kevin Carson

For those who come to marriage counseling, the majority of the time, the answer to the question, “Can you keep your marriage together?” is, “Yes.” This is true for most couples where one or both spouses are willing to put in some work. In the country, we call it sweat equity. Hard work goes a long way to keep a marriage together. It may not be easy, but for the majority of marriages, it is possible.

However, there is one commitment you can make that will guarantee you keep your marriage together.

You may be thinking, “Kevin, that’s a bold statement.” Yes, it is. But if you both make this one commitment, your marriage will not fail. At this point you are asking, “So what is it?”

Here it is: you both commit to the Bible being the final authority in your life, and, subsequently, your marriage.

How will this guarantee your marriage will not fail?

• Sin. Marriage is the union by covenant of two sinners. The Bible gives clear direction on how to respond to sin, how to seek and grant forgiveness, how to identify and correct sin, and how to guard against future sin.
• Struggle and suffering. All couples walk through seasons of difficulty. Financial pressures, vocational demands, parenting challenges, and health issues test every marriage. Scripture speaks with wisdom and hope into each of these realities.
• Love. The Bible defines love, calls for its endurance, and shows its fruit. True love flows from knowing Christ and reflecting His faithful and sacrificial love.
• Preferences. Differences of opinion are inevitable in marriage. Scripture provides wisdom to navigate preferences with humility, patience, and unity.
• Conflict. Conflict is unavoidable, but the Word of God gives clear guidance for repentance, reconciliation, and restoration.
• Decision making. Daily life brings countless decisions. When Scripture is the authority, couples can move forward with clarity, wisdom, and confidence.
• The purpose of life and marriage. Scripture answers life’s biggest questions—why we exist, what matters most, and how to order our priorities—so couples can live with shared direction.
• Christ and the church. The relationship between Christ and His church forms the pattern for marriage, anchoring couples amid competing pressures.
• Christ and the gospel. When Christ is central and the gospel shapes daily life, marriages bear spiritual fruit that flows from the Word of God.

Do you want to guarantee the long-term strength and viability of your marriage? Make the commitment today that the Bible will be your final authority. When temptation, discouragement, or hopelessness arises, the Word of God—by the power of the Spirit—enables perseverance.

Marriage may never be easy, depending on how you define easy. But marriage is sustainable for the glory of God, the good of each spouse, and the blessing of others.

For more from our latest series, visit Love, Marriage, and the Christian Life or our YouTube channel.