Staying Married is Not About Staying in Love is the title of Chapter One in John Piper’s This Momentary Marriage: A Parable of Permanence. Very different from the world has to say on the subject of marriage, isn’t it? In fact, the entire book is very contrary to society’s take on the bonds of matrimony. To the world, they are bonds easily broken without a second thought. To which Piper responds, “Staying married, therefore, is not mainly about staying in love. It is about keeping covenant” (p. 25).

This Momentary Marriage is a work that flies in the face of conventional thought on marriage, specifically its purpose. Piper delves into the Scripture to uncover what marriage portrays to the world around us.

The ultimate thing we can say about marriage is that it exists for God’s glory. That is, it exists to display God. Now we see how: Marriage is patterned after Christ’s covenant relationship to his redeemed people, the church. And therefore, the highest meaning and the most ultimate purpose of marriage is to put the covenant relationship of Christ and his church on display. That is why marriage exists. If you are married, that is why you are married. If you hope to be, that should be your dream. (p. 25)

Piper points out, through Scripture, the roles a husband and wife must assume in order to achieve a covenant-keeping marriage. He doesn’t say it will be easy. He does say that it will be worth the effort. (By the way, Piper and his wife have been married 40 years.)

Whether you’re still single, a newlywed, or even if you’ve just celebrated your silver anniversary, This Momentary Marriage is a book that will change the way you feel about marriage. It will cause you to strive for something more meaningful than the love that chick flicks and romance novels sell us. It will open your eyes to the greatest love ever found.

At 5 Minutes for Books, we rate our best of the best books as 5 Star Reads. This book has been added to that list. Check out the others.

If you’d like to win one of THREE copies (U.S. residents) please leave a comment here if you’d like to win. We’ll announce the winners in next Monday’s book review column right here.

The winners of Chicken Soup for the Soul’s True Love are #29 Lavonne, #7 Linda Kish, #36 Cindi.

Disclosure: Thanks to Crossway for allowing me to review this book.

5 Minutes for Books contributor Melissa & her husband are nearing their 17th anniversary, but she still has much to learn about marriage. She resides in Virginia and blogs at Breath of Life.