The Eternal Purpose of Marriage: Beyond Happiness and Companionship

The Heavenly Revelation About Marriage

A profound teaching about marriage comes from an exchange between Jesus and religious leaders trying to trap him with a complex question. They presented a scenario about a woman who, following ancient customs, had married seven brothers in succession after each died childless. Their question was designed to create a theological dilemma: "In heaven, whose wife will she be?"

Jesus's response was revolutionary: "In heaven, people neither marry nor are given in marriage; they are like the angels" (Matthew 22:30).

This revelation raises a profound question: If marriage doesn't exist in eternity, what is its true purpose? Why does this sacred institution exist at all if it's only temporary?

The True Purpose Revealed

The deepest insight into marriage's purpose comes from Ephesians 5:25-27:

"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless."

Many interpretations of this passage focus on practical service—husbands helping with household chores or showing emotional support. While these expressions of love are valid and important, they miss the deeper spiritual purpose revealed in this text.

How Did Christ Love the Church?

To understand marriage's true purpose, we must understand how Christ loved the church. What did Christ's love accomplish?

Christ's love for the church:

• Saved her from eternal separation from God

• Sanctified her through His Word and sacrifice

• Secured her place in eternity with Him

In essence, Christ's love for the church was salvific and eternal in purpose. He gave Himself up for her so she could be with Him forever.

Marriage as a Spiritual Partnership

When Scripture instructs husbands to love their wives "as Christ loved the church," it reveals marriage's highest purpose: to help each other reach heaven.

Marriage exists as a spiritual partnership where spouses:

• Help each other grow in holiness

• Support each other's spiritual journey

• Encourage godly character development

• Assist one another in fulfilling God's calling

This perspective transforms how we view marriage. The primary question shifts from "Will this person make me happy?" to "Will this relationship help us both grow closer to God and fulfill His purposes?"

For a deeper dive into the biblical foundation and essential roles within Christian marriage, this article on the essentials of Christian marriage provides excellent insight into how these principles can be practically applied in today’s world.

The Temporary Nature of Marriage

Understanding that marriage is temporary—that one day you will "return" your spouse to their true Bridegroom, Jesus Christ—changes how you approach this relationship.

When you recognize that your spouse ultimately belongs to Christ, you realize your responsibility is to help prepare them for that ultimate reunion. Your role becomes that of a steward entrusted with the spiritual wellbeing of another eternal soul.

Marriage as Mutual Sanctification

The text continues that Christ sanctified the church "to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless."

Similarly, marriage serves as a context for mutual sanctification—a relationship where both partners help each other become more Christlike. This happens through:

• Encouragement in pursuing spiritual disciplines

• Accountability in areas of weakness

• Support during trials and temptations

• Guidance in discovering and using spiritual gifts

Sanctification is not always comfortable, but it is deeply meaningful. In marriage, the daily act of loving someone through their flaws, their struggles, and their growth becomes a sacred tool God uses to refine both individuals. It’s in the quiet moments of prayer together, the patient conversations during conflict, and the faithful presence during hardship that true spiritual growth occurs.

Through mutual sanctification, marriage becomes more than companionship—it becomes discipleship. Spouses become co-laborers in grace, sharpening one another for God’s glory and preparing each other for eternity.

A Helper Toward Eternity

For wives specifically identified as "helpers" in Genesis, this reveals a profound spiritual dimension to that role. Being a helper isn't merely about practical assistance but about helping your husband fulfill his eternal destiny.

Imagine standing before God on judgment day and seeing your spouse present a life of faithful service and good works—works you helped make possible through your constant encouragement, prayer, and support. What greater purpose could a marriage serve?

Reframing Our View of Marriage

With this eternal perspective, the central question about marriage changes dramatically. Instead of asking:

• "Will this marriage make me happy?"

• "Will this person fulfill my needs?"

• "Will we be compatible?"

We should be asking:

• "Will God be pleased with this marriage?"

• "Will this relationship help us both reach heaven?"

• "Can we better serve God together than apart?"

When we reframe our questions, we shift from a mindset centered on personal gain to one focused on divine purpose. This doesn’t mean that emotional connection and happiness aren’t important—rather, they become the beautiful byproducts of a marriage rooted in something far deeper.

A marriage centered on God’s will doesn’t just survive the ups and downs of life; it thrives through them. It becomes a beacon of light to others, a testimony of faith, sacrifice, grace, and unconditional love. Instead of measuring a marriage by how it serves us, we begin to measure it by how it serves God and contributes to His kingdom.

By viewing marriage through this eternal lens, couples can approach their union not as a contract of convenience, but as a covenant with eternal implications—a sacred partnership shaped by grace, refined through trials, and glorified through obedience.

Conclusion: Marriage with Eternity in Mind

Marriage is not primarily about finding personal happiness, though joy is certainly part of God's design. Rather, it's about forming a covenant partnership that helps both spouses become more Christlike and fulfill God's purposes.

This understanding transforms marriage from a self-focused arrangement seeking personal fulfillment into a God-focused covenant aimed at mutual sanctification and eternal impact.

When couples embrace this purpose, they stop viewing marriage through a worldly lens focused on temporal happiness and start seeing it through an eternal lens focused on spiritual growth and kingdom impact.