We must admit it: marriages are failing today, but you can make your marriage succeed. The idea is that if both the husband and the wife comply with the advice found in the Bible, their marriage will last.

Make Your Marriage Succeed: Wife And Husband Biblical Advice

STM Bible Lesson

Lesson focus: Genesis 2:18; 21-22. Bible lesson background, Genesis 2:4-25: Genesis 1:1-2:3 gives a summary of the creation of the earth. Genesis 2:4-25 gives more details. Particularly, it clearly describes the creation of man and woman.

Genesis 2:18; 21-22 [read Genesis 2:4-25 (18; 21-22)]

18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.” 21 So the Lord God caused him to fall into a deep sleep. While the man was sleeping, the Lord God took out one of the man’s ribs. Then the Lord God closed the opening in the man’s side. 22 Then the Lord God made a woman. He made her from the rib he had taken out of the man. And the Lord God brought her to the man. (NIRV)

KJV: 18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. 21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; 22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

The first marriage (S2S: an arranged marriage)

Genesis 2:23-24 [read Genesis 2:4-25 (23-24)]

And the man said, “Finally! One like me, with bones from my bones and a body from my body. She was taken out of a man, so I will call her ‘woman.’” 24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife. In this way two people become one. (ERV)

KJV: And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

Genesis 3:16 [read Genesis 3:1-24 (16)]

Then he said to the woman, “I will sharpen the pain of your pregnancy, and in pain you will give birth. And you will desire to control your husband, but he will rule over you.” (NLT)

KJV: Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

Proverbs 19:13-14 [read Proverbs 19:1-29 (13-14)]

A foolish son is a disaster to his father, and a nagging wife is like constantly dripping water. 14 Home and wealth are an inheritance from fathers, but a wife with good sense is from the Lord. (EHV)

KJV: A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping. 14 House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD.

Finding a wife—a good wife

Make your marriage succeed: The man (not the woman) should search for and find a woman suited for marriage.

Proverbs 18:22 [read Proverbs 18:22]

A man who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord. (HCSB)

KJV: Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord.

Proverbs 31:10-12 [read Proverbs 31:10-31 (10-12); Proverbs 12:4]

Who can find a good wife? For she is worth far more than rubies that make one rich. 11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will never stop getting good things. 12 She does him good and not bad all the days of her life. (NLV)

KJV: Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. 11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. 12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

The Believer’s Study Bible: This portrait is of an ideal woman, Proverbs 31

1. She has a godly character (vv. 10-12, 17, 25, 30, 31),
2. a loving helper to her husband (vv. 11, 23, 28),
3. is an efficient homemaker (vv. 13-15, 21, 27),
4. with talents and abilities (vv. 16, 18, 19, 24)
5. and a compassionate community leader (vv. 20, 26).
6. One who desires a pleasant appearance (v. 22),
7. a wise mother (v. 28),
8. and a woman worthy of honor and commendation (vv. 28-31).

The New Testament wife, as taught by the older women of God:

1. She lives in a way that honors God (i.e., a holy life). Titus 2:3
2. As a godly woman, she does not slander others and is not addicted to wine. Titus 2:3
3. She loves her husband and children (if she has them). Titus 2:4
4. Also, she is self-controlled, pure, a homemaker, kind, and submissive to her husband. Titus 2:5
5. She dresses modestly, appropriately, and respectably, with decency and good sense. 1 Timothy 2:9
6. They do not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold, pearls, or expensive clothes. 1 Timothy 2:9 (NLT)
7. Her devotion to God should make her attractive through the good things she does. 1 Timothy 2:10

A woman was made for and from a man

1 Corinthians 11:7-8 [read 2-16 (7-8)]

For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. (ESV)

KJV: For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. 8 For the man is not of the woman: but the woman of the man.

Sex and Marriage

Sex is meant for marriage and only with your spouse. Your bodies do not belong to you but to your spouse as a God-given right. David Guzik’s Commentary: Paul strongly puts forth the idea that there is a mutual sexual responsibility in marriage; the husband has obligations towards his wife, and the wife has obligations towards her husband.

1 Corinthians 7:2-4 [read 1 Corinthians 7:1-9 (2-4)]

But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. (NIV)

KJV: Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. 3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. 4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.

Taking a sex break

1 Corinthians 7:5 [read 1 Corinthians 7:1-9 (5)]

So do not withhold sex from one another, unless both of you have agreed to devote a certain period of time to prayer. When the agreed time is over, come together again so that Satan will not tempt you when you are short on self-control. (VOICE)

KJV: Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

Married to a non-believer? You could cause them to believe

1 Corinthians 7:12-13 [read 1 Corinthians 7:10-16 (12-13)]

I (not the Lord) say to the rest of you: If a brother has a wife who is an unbeliever and she is willing to live with him, he must not abandon her. 13 And if a woman has a husband who is an unbeliever and he is willing to live with her, she must not abandon him. (ISV)

KJV: But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. 13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.

Wife And Husband: Biblical Advice

Make your marriage succeed: The husband is the leader in a Christian home. His wife accepts God’s will and puts him first by doing as he says, as he follows Christ.

The wife ought to obey her husband

Ephesians 5:22-24 [read Ephesians 5:22-33 (22-24)]

A wife should put her husband first, as she does the Lord. 23 A husband is the head of his wife, as Christ is the head and the Savior of the church, which is his own body. (CEV)

KJV: Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

Colossians 3:18-19 [read Colossians 3:18-25 (18-19)]

Wives, be under the authority of your husbands, as is right in the Lord. 19 Husbands, have love for your wives, and be not bitter against them. (BBE)

KJV: Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

The husband must love his wife

Ephesians 5:25 and 28 [read Ephesians 5:22-33 (25 and 28)]

25 As for husbands, love your wives just like Christ loved the church and gave himself for her. 28 That’s how husbands ought to love their wives—in the same way as they do their own bodies. Anyone who loves his wife loves himself. (CEB)

KJV: Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

Ephesians 5:33 [read Ephesians 5:22-33 (33); compare Colossians 3:18-19]

But each one of you husbands should understand this: love your own wife as you love yourself. And every wife among you must respect her husband. (EASY)

KJV: Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

Please each other without neglecting other spiritual responsibilities

1 Corinthians 7:33-34 [read 1 Corinthians 7:25-40 (33-34)]

But a married man is concerned about the world’s concerns—how he can please his wife. 34 His attention is divided. A woman who isn’t married or who is a virgin is concerned about the Lord’s concerns so that she can be dedicated to God in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the world’s concerns—how she can please her husband. (CEB)

KJV: But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. 34 There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

The duty of wives and husbands to each other

1 Peter 3:1-2 [read 1 Peter 3:1-6 (1-2)]

If you are a wife, you must put your husband first. Even if he opposes our message, you will win him over by what you do. No one else will have to say anything to him, 2 because he will see how you honor God and live a pure life. (CEV)

KJV: Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; 2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.

1 Peter 3:7 [read 1 Peter 3:7]

Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as the weaker partners and show them honor as fellow heirs of the grace of life. In this way nothing will hinder your prayers. (NET)

KJV: Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

Enjoy married life

Ecclesiastes 9:9 and 11 [read Ecclesiastes 8:10-9:12 (9 and 11)]

9:9 Enjoy life with the wife you love. Enjoy all the useless days of this useless life God has given you here on earth, because it is all you have. So enjoy the work you do here on earth. 9:11 I also saw something else here on earth: The fastest runner does not always win the race, the strongest soldier does not always win the battle, the wisest does not always have food, the smartest does not always become wealthy, and the talented one does not always receive praise. Time and chance happen to everyone. (NCV)

KJV: 9:9 Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun. 9:11 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

So, my friends, it was not good for ‘the man’ to be alone, so God made a wife (helper and companion) for him. After that, the Lord wants men to ‘find’ their wives to love and cherish. One who respects and does what he says as she respects what God says. The two act harmoniously in obedience to God to make their marriage succeed. So if you want to make your marriage succeed, follow God’s advice! Thank you for taking the time to read this Bible lesson. I urge you to make full use of it. Blessings to you and your loved ones—♥ Tim. ☺

Related studies, lessons, and snacks for further spiritual growth:

5 Helpful Studies to Make You Want to Avoid Adultery – an estimated 33-minute read.

Female Elders, How? It’s Illegal According To The Bible – an estimated 6-minute read.

Prayer Blockers; Know Them; Learn How to Avoid Them – an estimated 23-minute read.

Older Men: 6 Bible-based Points, Being Senior Godly Men – an estimated 10-minute read.

To Handle Adultery, You Need To Forgive, Not Divorce – an estimated 6-minute read.

See the latest on the Sound Truth Ministry website.

I look forward to your feedback via comment at the bottom of the page or by emailing tim@stministry.com. Have a wonderful day!