- Association of Certified Biblical Counselors - https://biblicalcounseling.com -

Marry Wisely, Marry Well

In his book Marry Wisely, Marry Well: A Blueprint for Personal Preparation [1], Dr. Ernie Baker guides readers through developing a strong foundation for marriage even before they are in a relationship. He uses the analogy of building a house to illustrate his points about building a strong marriage. In part one, he discusses laying the foundation for a marriage which includes a call to build on biblical wisdom, the absolute importance of the gospel, an analysis of what should bring about attraction toward members of the opposite sex, and a biblical framework of God’s design for marriage.

In part 2, Dr. Baker builds upon the foundation he has established. He begins by discussing how people can prepare for marriage while they are single, considers some helpful relationship skills, and evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of different dating strategies. He finishes the book by highlighting the result of a strong foundation and a biblical framework in the pre-marriage process: a marriage that honors the Lord.

One of the most helpful sections of this book is in chapter 3 where Dr. Baker discusses attraction and biblically evaluates attraction to a member of the opposite sex. At the end of this chapter, he includes a series of questions to help his readers evaluate their own hearts and reveal previously unknown idols. Also, in Chapter 8, Dr. Baker discusses “Wisdom and God’s Will”. Here Dr. Baker debunks some common misunderstandings about the will of God with an emphasis on their relationship to romance and dating.

All in all, Marry Wisely, Marry Well is an excellent read for anyone who is in a relationship or would like to be in a relationship someday or will walk with others as they embark into relationships. It is especially helpful for establishing a biblical foundation for marriage and showing how this foundation should impact dating relationships and lead to a marriage that glorifies the Lord.