If A Person Is Unhappy In His/Her Marriage, Should They Not Divorce and Remarry, As It Would Be An “Unreasonable” Thing if He/She Had To Stay In The Marriage Because The Bible States That Our Service To God Must Be Reasonable (Romans 12:1,2)?

This is a false doctrine that contains a lot of “baggage.” We must sort this question out in the proper way according to biblical authority (Colossians 3:17). The way we would reconstruct the false teacher's syllogism would look something like this:

Major Premise: All things in life that make us unhappy are things in which it would be unreasonable to continue.

Minor Premise: A marriage in life can make us unhappy.

Conclusion: Therefore, it would be unreasonable to continue in the marriage (their answer: divorce and remarry based on a faulty interpretation of Romans 12:1,2).

First, it is true that our service to God must be reasonable (Romans 12:1,2).

But does the Bible teach that if we are “unhappy” in our marital relationship (assuming it is a scriptural God-approved marriage – Matthew 5:31,32; 19:1-12; Ephesians 5:22-33; 1 Peter 3:1-7) that we are simply not to continue in it?

Many people often ask the question, “Doesn't God want me to be happy?” We must define the word “happy.” Are we defining it in accordance to the worldly mindset (1 John 2:15-17) or are we defining it in accordance with God's will? The answer is “yes” if we will do that which is in accordance with God's will. The will of God has been revealed on this matter that marriage is to be a life-long commitment until death or if one of the spouses commits the sin of fornication (Matthew 19:9).

Therefore, it is not “unreasonable” at all to do God's will. Keeping your vows and helping to sustain your marriage, even though it may be going through difficult times, is what God commands from each of us who are scripturally married. Please remember the marriage of God and Israel in the Old Testament and learn from the patience, love, longsuffering, kindness, meekness from God in how he treated His spiritual wife in the Old Testament (especially the book of Hosea).

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If A Person Is Unhappy In His/Her Marriage...