In today's society, marriage is thought of as a contract. A contract is simply an agreement between two parties. And while we are not supposed to break a contract, if we do, the only person we wrong is the other person in the contract.
The Bible, however, teaches that marriage is a covenant. A covenant differs from a contract in one important regard: a covenant is an agreement made between two people in the presence of God. As a result, we do not simply pledge to our spouse that we will be faithful to keep this covenant; we also pledge to God Himself that we will be faithful to keep this covenant. This is a much higher view of marriage than society today.
When we understand that marriage is a covenant in which God Himself is involved, it should affect our marriage relationship in several ways. Here are two to consider:
1. We will be committed to making the marriage work. Jesus said, "What God has joined together [in marriage] let no man separate." We show our commitment to the covenant of marriage by keeping our marriage relationship as the highest priority in our life next to the Lord. Moreover, if we are struggling, we seek help immediately from older and wiser Christians in our church or a Bible-believing Christian counseling center.
2. We will seek to keep the Lord at the center of our lives and at the center of our marriages. Since He is the Lord of the covenant, we seek to live our lives and marriages in accordance with His commands and principles.
"...It is because the LORD is acting as the witness between you and the wife of your youth, because you have broken faith with her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant." Malachi 2:14