Most Christian weddings will include a short Scripture passage or two. It’s a beautiful way to incorporate the Bible into the service and lead up to the pastor’s homily or sermon. If you are planning a wedding or involved in one, you might be searching for a meaningful Scripture passage to include during the service or even on the wedding invitation itself.
For years, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 has been the benchmark for Christian marriages:
“Love is patient, love is kind… love never ends.”
But that isn’t the only passage in the Bible that talks about how to show love, especially in the context of marriage.
There are Bible passages directed at how husbands should act, and some towards how wives should act as well. If these passages seem overused, perhaps you’d like to consider some of the following to read at the next wedding you participate in.
Love Needs Action
Romans 12:9-12 talks about how to act in love. It says, don’t be selfish or even blasé about your relationship – but honor each other, be patient, and be sincere.
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
Don’t Just Talk the Talk
Love needs to be shown with more than just words, it needs action, too. 1 John 3:18 says,
“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”
Love shows in how we act.
A New Marriage is Like Spring
Celebrate your love and keep it new, like the spring. Spring, also known as the season of love, is an exciting and breathtaking time, like it says in Song of Solomon 2:10-13:
“My beloved spoke and said to me,
‘Arise, my darling,
my beautiful one, come with me.
See! The winter is past;
the rains are over and gone.
Flowers appear on the earth;
the season of singing has come,
the cooing of doves
is heard in our land.
The fig tree forms its early fruit;
the blossoming vines spread their fragrance.
Arise, come, my darling;
my beautiful one, come with me.'”
Love Cannot be Quenched
True love cannot be quenched or washed away it will stand the test of time and the floods of life. Song of Solomon 8:7 takes a look at this idea:
“Many waters cannot quench love;
rivers cannot sweep it away.
If one were to give
all the wealth of one’s house for love,
it would be utterly scorned.”
Love Is All the Time
Proverbs is a book of wisdom and offers up nuggets of wisdom on relationships. Love isn’t just for sometimes, instead, it’s for all the time. Proverbs 17:17 says,
“A friend loves at all times.”
Two Are Better Than One
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 talks about how two are better than one. It says that if one person falls down, the other can help them up. This is so critical in a marriage – we all make mistakes and fail sometimes, but having someone to help us get back on our feet is so much better than trying to do it alone.
“Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”
Do Everything in Love
1 Corinthians 16:14 is simply short and sweet. The basis of any important relationship is to do everything in love. Whether you are washing dishes, raising children together, cleaning the house, or paying the bills, working together – in love- will make it all go so much more smoothly.
Follow God’s Example of Love
We used to ask, “What Would Jesus Do?” And that question still works in marriage. Ephesians 5:1-2 shows us to follow God’s example of love. Jesus loved us so much that He even died for us:
“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
Love Like Christ
John 15:12-13 is similar. It shows us to love like Christ loved.
“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
God’s Love Lives in Us
God loved us first, and this is the kind of love that he demonstrates throughout the Bible. We can follow God’s example of love in relationships too. Even in marriage, we can reflect God’s love by being the first to love the other person. This might show up as being kind instead of bitter, setting aside some personal wants on behalf of the other person, or just being there no matter what happens in your day.
1 John 4:7-12 says,
“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us.”
Be a Supportive Spouse
Another way to show God’s love in marriage is to be a supportive spouse. Look to their interests, whether it’s careers or even hobbies. You can show love by making sure your spouse gets their needs met.
Philippians 2:2-4 says,
“Then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”
Forgiveness is Key
Ephesians 4:32 tells us to be kind, compassionate, and forgiving, just like Jesus.
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
This is true in all relationships, and even more critical in a marriage.
Show Love
1 Corinthians 13:13 explains,
“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
Love Drives Out Fear
God showed their love first and that love drives out fear. It doesn’t create it. This verse shows us to work hard at making a marriage that isn’t based on fear.
1 John 4:18-19 says,
“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because He first loved us.”
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
Even in marriage, spouses need to be on the same page and work as a team. Even better when they can worship together.
Romans 15:5-6 says it best:
“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
25 Ways to Speak Your Spouse’s Love Language
Have you ever read The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman?
In this wildly popular book, Chapman explains that people generally best receive love in one of five ways. Love your spouse in the “wrong” way (for them) and they’ll be far less likely or able to receive it.
Love them in the “right” way (again, for them!) and they’re far more likely to feel loved and appreciated.
25 Ways to Speak Your Spouse’s Love Language
5 Powerful Prayers Every Wife Should Pray Over Her Husband
Wives, do you pray for your husbands? Regularly? What do you pray for?
While you may find the time to build your husband up, you may have to admit — you haven’t always been the best at praying for your husband or your marriage throughout the years, but that’s ok!
It’s not because you don’t want to or because you don’t think it’s incredibly important — I am sure you do! — but simply because you don’t often remember to!
5 Powerful Prayers Every Wife Should Pray Over Her Husband
