In this message we bring this series on marriage to a conclusion. Our focus today will be on the strategies we employ to make our marriages work.

Most people rely want their marriages to work. The question is “what strategy will we use?”
Strategies for marital happiness.

This is the only strategy strong enough to sustain a marriage.

A commitment to Jesus Christ changes our understanding of the purpose of marriage.
1 Corinthians 7:2, Since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.
Marriage brings us into a close relationship with another person in order to allow us to work on those areas of our lives that need to be conformed to Christ. 1

Marriage is not designed to make us happy, but to make us holy. Marriage is part of God’s plan to develop you. A commitment to Christ changes our pattern of behavior. 1 John 4:16-17, We know how much God loves us, and have put our trust in him. God is love, and all who live in love live in God and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect.
As your relationship with Christ deepens, your love gets better. You are changed from pride and self-protection to humility and vulnerability.
A commitment to Christ changes our perspective. Ephesians 5:21, Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. When you are committed to Christ, you have the following perspective about your marriage… “This is between you and me and Jesus.”

“It’s not about the two of us. It’s about the three of us.”
“I can’t do whatever I want to do because Jesus is a part of our relationship.”
I can do whatever I need to do because Jesus is a part of our relationship.” 2