The Family & the HomeThe Family & the Home

Lesson 5: Why Marriages Fail

Divorce in America

Divorce in America

Divorce in America

Marriage Failure

Why this study?

To help never-before-married couples avoid common mistakes

To help married couples examine their current relationship and work to remain together

To help divorced couples learn from their mistakes and not repeat them

Marriage Failure

Marriages fail for the same basic reason that…

Individual Christians fail (1 Tim. 1:19)

Local churches fail (Rev. 2-3)

Worldly people fail (2 Thess. 1:8)

Failure is due to a lack of obedience to God and his word!

Marriage Failure

The Bible does not ignore the reality of marriage pitfalls and problems…

Adultery (Prov. 2:17) and divorce (Mal. 2:14-16)

Separation (S. of S. 5-6; 1 Cor. 7:5)

Old age; physical changes (Eccl. 12:3ff)

Marriage to an unbeliever (1 Pet. 3:1)

Duties toward elderly parents (Mt. 15:4-5)

Fighting (Prov. 19:13; Col. 3:19)

Marriage Failure

Why do marriages fail? What are the warning signs and signals?

A lack of love and respect for God’s word; a lack of teaching God’s word on this subject (Mt. 22:37; 1 Jn. 5:2-3)

A lack of biblical love that sacrifices and services; more selfishness than selflessness (Mt. 7:12; 1 Cor. 13:4-8; Phil. 2:3-4)

Marriage Failure

A failure to work at making marriage last (Mt. 19:3, 6; Heb. 13:4)

A lack of togetherness or oneness; fragmented; growing apart – physically, emotionally, spiritually (Gen. 2:24-25; Deut. 24:5; Prov. 2:15ff; 27:8; Eccl. 9:9; Mal. 2:14-16; 1 Cor. 7:2-4; 1 Pet. 3:7)

A lack of seriousness in keeping our marriage vow (Prov. 2:17; Eccl. 5:2-5; Mal. 2:14-16)

Marriage Failure

Marrying for the wrong reasons: money, sex, prestige, spite, etc. (see Lesson 2)

A lack of understanding the proper roles and relationships in marriage; refusal to fulfill them; or, shifting responsibilities to others (Eph. 5:22 – 6:4; Col. 3:18-21; etc.)

A lack of preparation before marriage; a bad beginning from the start (see Lessons 3 and 4)

Marriage Failure

Incompatibility, especially in the spiritual/religious realm (1 Pet. 3:7)

Materialism, work, out-of-control debt, financial problems (Lk. 12:15ff; Heb. 13:5)

In-law busybodies; meddlers (Gen. 2:24; 2 Thess. 3:11; 1 Tim. 5:13; 1 Pet. 4:11)

Review Questions

1. What is the basic reason why marriages fail?

2. What are some other factors that lead to marriage failure?