1. The Family & the Home Lesson 5: Why Marriages Fail

2. Divorce in America

5. 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

6. 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!

7. 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)

8. 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)

9. 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)

10. 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)

11. 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)

12. Review Questions 1. What is the basic reason why marriages fail? 2. What are some other factors that lead to marriage failure?