You Cannot Have A Great Marriage

By Perry Noble, Christian Post Guest Columnist Saturday, September 19, 2015

Perry Noble is the founding and senior pastor of NewSpring Church in Anderson, S.C. | (Photo: Courtesy of NewSpring Church)

Are you struggling in your current marriage?

Are you single and one day hope you have a great marriage?

I don't want to burst your bubble ... but you will never simply "have" a great marriage.

However, you can build one!

All the people I know who have great marriages did not just inherit them overnight — they worked on them, communicated openly, fought fairly and put their spouse's needs before theirs.

Just the other morning I read in Proverbs 10:4 — "Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth."

Often times this is referred to as being rich financially, but it also applies to being rich relationally.

If you want to have a great marriage then you must be willing to neglect laziness and have diligent hands that build up rather than tear down.

If you are married — what steps can you take today to have diligent hands that build your spouse up? A surprise date night? A text that says, "I love you"? Saying "I'm sorry" about the latest conflict?

If you are single — what steps can you take today to have diligent hands to prepare you for marriage? Get out of debt? Deal with past baggage? Get into God's Word?

A great marriage is a great marriage because people worked to make it great. Don't just pray for a great marriage, but participate with God as He leads you. Develop diligent hands to do whatever it takes for your marriage to be great.

This article was originally posted here.

Perry Noble is the founding and senior pastor of NewSpring Church in South Carolina. The church averages 26,000 people during weekend services at multiple campuses throughout the state. Noble, his wife Lucretia and their daughter Charisse live in Anderson, South Carolina. You can read all of Perry's unfiltered thoughts about life and leadership at PerryNoble.com.