How to Put Christ on Display in Your Marriage

Most couples come into a relationship with a sense of idealism. They’re so much in love and so much alike and so happy.

Over time, though, they discover that they’re really not that much alike – and maybe not so happy, either. That’s when a marriage ends up being all about “me” and “my happiness,” instead of “us” and “our happiness.”

Dr. Larry Crabb says the central problem in marriages like that is “unrecognized self-centeredness.” We ask, “What can my spouse do for me?” rather than “What can I offer my spouse that would make a difference in their life?” Instead of ministering, we manipulate.

But what if we put Christ on display in the way we relate to our spouse? Think about this: While Jesus hung on the cross, He took care of His mother, invited a thief to join Him in heaven, and said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 12:34, ESV).

What does that mean for us? That when our spouse hurts us or things get tough in our marriage, we can make the decision to put Christ on display at that moment. Tough times don’t have to be an obstacle, they can become an opportunity.

Through Christ, we have the opportunity to touch our spouse’s soul by becoming more like Him – selfless.

Joining us to talk about removing selfishness from marriage is Dr. Larry Crabb, well-known author and the founder and director of New Way Ministries. He’ll be sharing timeless wisdom and practical ideas that’ll help you turn your marriage from “me” to “we.”

Listen to “Building True Oneness in Marriage” on your local radio station, online, on iTunes, via Podcast, or take us with you on our free phone app. You can also find details about Dr. Crabb’s book, The Marriage Builder: Creating True Oneness to Transform Your Marriage, in our online bookstore.