--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What if God designed marriage to make us…" description: "\"“What if God designed marriage to make us holy more than to make us happy?”\" — Gary L. Thomas" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/987/gary-l-thomas-15836_marriage_what-if-god-designed-marriage-to-make-us_2573025.png" --- # What if God designed marriage to make us holy more than to… ![“What if God designed marriage to make us holy more than to make us happy?” quote by Gary L. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/987/gary-l-thomas-15836_marriage_what-if-god-designed-marriage-to-make-us_2573025.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/987/gary-l-thomas-15836_marriage_what-if-god-designed-marriage-to-make-us_2573025.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/987/gary-l-thomas-15836_marriage_what-if-god-designed-marriage-to-make-us_2573025.png) > ““What if God designed marriage to make us holy more than to make us happy?”” [Gary L. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-thomas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Posits that marriage may be intended more for spiritual sanctification than for personal happiness. **In simple terms:** Marriage could prioritize holiness over happiness. Key Takeaway Consider spiritual purpose in relationships. Themes marriage spirituality purpose Mood contemplative inquisitive Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - wedding vows - counseling - religious communities - personal reflection Key Concepts theology relationship ethics Questions to Reflect On - Is spiritual growth more important than personal joy? - How can couples balance holiness and happiness? A Different Perspective May ignore individual emotional needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) ## Related quotes > [The holidays are only holy if we make them so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-holidays-are-only-holy-if-we-make-them-so/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [“Obeying God's laws doesn't make us holy because we are already holy in Christ. Obeying God's laws reveals our love and unleashes God's best!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alisa-hope-wagner/obeying-god-s-laws-doesn-t-make-us-holy-because-we-are-already-holy/) [Alisa Hope Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alisa-hope-wagner/) > [“Remember: It cost God everything to make you holy. When you choose to live below that calling – making excuses for compromise and cultural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phylicia-d-masonheimer/remember-it-cost-god-everything-to-make-you-holy-when-you-choose-to/) [Phylicia D. Masonheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phylicia-d-masonheimer/) > [I want to declare to you today: Jesus died to make you holy. It is possible for you to live a life without bondage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-wheaton/i-want-to-declare-to-you-today-jesus-died-to-make-you-holy-it-is/) [Karen Wheaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-wheaton/) > [Marriage isn't meant to make you happy. Marriage is meant to make you holy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/marriage-isn-t-meant-to-make-you-happy-marriage-is-meant-to-make-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Lord make me as holy as a pardoned sinner can be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/lord-make-me-as-holy-as-a-pardoned-sinner-can-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave to make us holy and acceptable to Him once and for all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-stanley/jesus-died-on-the-cross-and-rose-from-the-grave-to-make-us-holy-and/) [Charles F. Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-stanley/) > [“Mighty One, make us holy healthy happy beings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/mighty-one-make-us-holy-healthy-happy-beings/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [The kind of work we do does not make us holy, but we can make it holy. However "sacred" a calling may be, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/the-kind-of-work-we-do-does-not-make-us-holy-but-we-can-make-it-holy/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [Works indeed are good, and God strictly requires them of us, but they do not make us holy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/works-indeed-are-good-and-god-strictly-requires-them-of-us-but-they/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“The space between our mouth and the people’s ears, or eyes, who receive what we make, that is holy ground.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogersogers/the-space-between-our-mouth-and-the-people-s-ears-or-eyes-who-receive/) Fred Rogersogers > [If your religion does not make you holy, it will damn you. It is simply painted pageantry to go to hell in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/if-your-religion-does-not-make-you-holy-it-will-damn-you-it-is-simply/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [Jesus wants to make us holy at all costs. . .He offers you continual proof of this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pio-of-pietrelcina/jesus-wants-to-make-us-holy-at-all-costs-he-offers-you-continual/) [Pio of Pietrelcina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pio-of-pietrelcina/) > [Yes, God does expect us to live holy, consecrated lives. But not even the best of our intentions can make it happen. Thankfully, He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/yes-god-does-expect-us-to-live-holy-consecrated-lives-but-not-even/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [One is not low because of birth nor does birth make one holy. Deeds alone make one low, deeds alone make one holy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/one-is-not-low-because-of-birth-nor-does-birth-make-one-holy-deeds/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) ## More by Gary L. Thomas > [“The mark of a spiritual man or woman is a listening heart, not a lecturing tongue.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-thomas/the-mark-of-a-spiritual-man-or-woman-is-a-listening-heart-not-a/) [Gary L. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-thomas/) > [“With Christ in us and the Holy Spirit transforming us, we really have no excuse for continuing immaturity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-thomas/with-christ-in-us-and-the-holy-spirit-transforming-us-we-really-have/) [Gary L. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-thomas/) > [The older I get the more I realize that a significant portion of a parent's happiness or sadness in middle-age will be directly impacted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-thomas/the-older-i-get-the-more-i-realize-that-a-significant-portion-of-a/) [Gary L. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-thomas/) > [Done well, marital sexuality can be a supremely healing experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-thomas/done-well-marital-sexuality-can-be-a-supremely-healing-experience/) [Gary L. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-thomas/) > [“Contempt is conceived with expectations. Respect is conceived with expressions of gratitude. We can choose which one we will obsess over-expectations, or thanksgivings. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-thomas/contempt-is-conceived-with-expectations-respect-is-conceived-with/) [Gary L. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-thomas/) > [A good marriage isn't something you find; it's something you make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-thomas/a-good-marriage-isn-t-something-you-find-it-s-something-you-make/) [Gary L. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-thomas/) > [If you want to be free to serve Jesus, there’s no question—stay single. Marriage takes a lot of time. But if you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-thomas/if-you-want-to-be-free-to-serve-jesus-there-s-no-question-stay-single/) [Gary L. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-thomas/) > [“One of these early thinkers, Augustine (A.D. 354–430), suggested that there are three benefits of marriage: offspring, faith (fidelity), and sacrament. Of the three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-thomas/one-of-these-early-thinkers-augustine-a-d-354-430-suggested-that/) [Gary L. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-thomas/) > [“Righteousness—true holiness—is seen over time in our persistence. It is relatively easy to “flirt” with righteousness—being occasionally courteous to other drivers (if you happen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-thomas/righteousness-true-holiness-is-seen-over-time-in-our-persistence-it/) [Gary L. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-thomas/) > [“This is a book that looks at how we can use the challenges, joys, struggles, and celebrations of marriage to draw closer to God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-thomas/this-is-a-book-that-looks-at-how-we-can-use-the-challenges-joys/) [Gary L. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-thomas/) > [“He planted marriage among humans as yet another signpost pointing to his own eternal, spiritual existence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-thomas/he-planted-marriage-among-humans-as-yet-another-signpost-pointing-to/) [Gary L. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-thomas/) > [It's astonishing how quickly cultural references change. Each new generation of parents grows up with a new slate of cultural understanding, television shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-thomas/it-s-astonishing-how-quickly-cultural-references-change-each-new/) [Gary L. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-thomas/) > [“In this chapter, we’re going to explore how these various analogies use the experience of marriage to teach us valuable truths about the nature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-thomas/in-this-chapter-we-re-going-to-explore-how-these-various-analogies/) [Gary L. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-thomas/) > [What if your husband’s faults are God’s tools to shape you? What if the very thing that most bugs you about your man constitutes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-thomas/what-if-your-husband-s-faults-are-god-s-tools-to-shape-you-what-if/) [Gary L. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-thomas/) > [Any mature, spiritually sensitive view of marriage must be built on the foundation of mature love rather than romanticism. But this immediately casts us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-thomas/any-mature-spiritually-sensitive-view-of-marriage-must-be-built-on/) [Gary L. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-thomas/) [Explore all 41 Gary L. Thomas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-thomas/) ## More Marriage quotes > [Unmarried couples should get married - that's an excellent tax avoidance measure, if a bit drastic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-whiting/unmarried-couples-should-get-married-that-s-an-excellent-tax/) John Whiting > [I know for my wife and I, we always loved the idea of being young parents. It is an incredibly inspiring and challenging job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hanson/i-know-for-my-wife-and-i-we-always-loved-the-idea-of-being-young/) [Taylor Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hanson/) > [I cannot forbid a person to marry several wives, for it does not contradict Scripture. MARTIN LUTHER, letter to Chancellor Gregory Brück, January 13,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/i-cannot-forbid-a-person-to-marry-several-wives-for-it-does-not/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [I don't like being away from home. That's one reason why I don't work as much as I used to \[when I started my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-powell/i-don-t-like-being-away-from-home-that-s-one-reason-why-i-don-t-work/) [Jane Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-powell/) > [Luckily, the bullet that hit my chest never got to me. It was stopped by a silver case I got for my brother's wedding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-doohan/luckily-the-bullet-that-hit-my-chest-never-got-to-me-it-was-stopped/) [James Doohan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-doohan/) > [Do you think that God would separate me from my husband if I killed myself? I feel as though I am going out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-you-think-that-god-would-separate-me-from-my-husband-if-i-killed/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The thing about hitting kids is, think about if you were doing the same thing to another adult. Hitting your kid is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-thing-about-hitting-kids-is-think-about-if-you-were-doing-the/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [“Take an interest in his appearance. Keeping his clothes in order is your job; encouraging him to look his best, and admiring him when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-baker/take-an-interest-in-his-appearance-keeping-his-clothes-in-order-is/) [Ellen Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-baker/) > [Females always say, you can't turn a hoe into a house wife, but steady be trying to turn a dog into a faithful man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussein-nishah/females-always-say-you-can-t-turn-a-hoe-into-a-house-wife-but-steady/) [Hussein Nishah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussein-nishah/) > [He's a fool that marries; but he's a greater fool that does not marry a fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wycherley/he-s-a-fool-that-marries-but-he-s-a-greater-fool-that-does-not-marry/) [William Wycherley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wycherley/) > [Her dignity consists in being unknown to the world; her glory is in the esteem of her husband; her pleasures in the happiness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/her-dignity-consists-in-being-unknown-to-the-world-her-glory-is-in/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [But I think that of all the literature that I studied, the book that did more than any other to fire my enthusiasm was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/but-i-think-that-of-all-the-literature-that-i-studied-the-book-that/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [Most marriages don't add two people together. They subtract one from the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-fleming/most-marriages-don-t-add-two-people-together-they-subtract-one-from/) [Ian Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-fleming/) > [Alimony - the ransom that the happy pay to the devil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/alimony-the-ransom-that-the-happy-pay-to-the-devil/) [H. L. 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