3 Qualities Every Marriage Needs

Is there such a thing as a “perfect” couple? Actually, yes! And, in them, we see modeled three qualities every marriage needs.

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Quick, name one infamous historical duo.

Okay, time’s up. Who did you say?

Bonnie and Clyde?

Frank and Jesse James?

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid?

Me, I’d name Adam and Eve. The father and mother of all notorious pairs to follow.
These two are often remembered as the world’s most scandalous fruit eaters, remarkably skilled at casting blame and innovative in the area of fig-leaf clothing design. But, the truth is, we can actually learn a lot from this original duo—in their Pre-Fall state—when it comes to what every marriage needs.

During those early sin-absent days, Adam and Eve model for us God’s perfect design for husband and wife relationships. This God-created, God-ordained team point us to qualities every marriage needs.

You see, the introduction of sin didn’t null and void what God’s perfect design was for husbands and wives. In those beginning days, marriage was His joining of a man and a woman together for the purpose of bringing Himself glory. The advent of conflict didn’t change that. It just made things more complicated. More difficult.

So what qualities do we see worth modeling in this now infamous duo?

3 Qualities Every Marriage Needs

1. Every Marriage Needs Unity

Sure, it’s well known that Adam and Eve shared both a rib and that off-limits piece of fruit. But think about what else they had in common.

For example, life goals. This included having kids and caring for the Garden and God’s creatures. Oh, and that little thing called survival. After all, there was no local Target in Mesopotamia at the time.

You’ll notice, the first thing sin introduced to their relationship was division. They didn’t cover or fight for one another, they immediately veered toward blame and self-protection.

Just as it did in the beginning, unity matters in our marriages. A lot.

Jesus told the scribes, “If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand” (Mark 3:25). As husbands and wives, God desires us to not allow discord to divide us, but to do our best to walk in unity with each other.

2. Every Marriage Needs Cooperation

Adam and Eve worked together to accomplish these shared life goals. With unity came cooperation.

Prior to the Fall, I imagine teamwork was seamless. It wasn’t until afterward that common goals were interrupted by personal ambition. Team decreased, player increased.

In our marriages, it’s imperative that we work for and with one another. Whether it’s in raising our kids, managing the resources God has given us, or serving our communities, let’s accomplish these things not back-to-back, but hand-in-hand. Or even cheek-to-cheek.

3. Every Marriage Needs Commitment

Sure, Adam and Eve may have been the only two people alive then. Even so, they were fully committed. 100%. There was no Plan Beta. There wasn’t even a Plan Alpha. For them, it was the only plan.

After God presented His first woman to His first man, Scripture doesn’t record either of them stopping to wonder if their “soul mate” was still out there. You know, somewhere beyond the boundaries of the Garden.

We too should be 100% committed to our spouse. Without reservation. In the good and bad. In the easy and tough.

A Marriage that Rivals Even the Best

In the post-Garden reality, it may seem the odds are stacked against you. But you don’t have to be an infamous couple.

With God’s help, your marital story — and mine — doesn’t have to end in a metaphorical flurry of metaphorical gunfire. When we walk with the Lord, as Adam and Eve once did, our marriages can proclaim the beauty of that first, pre-Fall relationship.

Get More Practical Marriage Advice in Team Us

The best marriages have a teamwork mentality. Spouses serve each other, support each other, and celebrate each other. They tackle life as a unit, and when one slips, the other gives grace. They can be vulnerable together because they know they rise and fall as one.

Do you want a marriage like this? Team Us: The Unifying Power of Grace, Commitment, and Cooperation in Marriage. will help you and your spouse cultivate a teamwork mentality. Ashleigh Slater shares observations from her marriage while offering practical, realistic ideas for unifying yours.

Even if just one of you reads, your marriage can grow in intimacy and joy, providing momentum for the changes you long to see.

Team Us is available for order at Amazon and through Moody Publishers.